'The Johnson Way to Better Photography'

The 'Johnson Way to Better Photography' is a series of small booklets produced by Johnsons for specific, named, retailers (mostly chemists), who distributed Johnsons chemicals and equipment.

The booklets were probably given away to customers (though the later versions are priced at 6d; 2.5p) in hopes that by reading them the customers would gain an interest in home photographic processing and return to make purchases. Possibly the retailers contributed to the costs of production of the booklets with the expectation of recovering their costs through attendant sales.

No dates are known for most of the booklets but contents suggest they date throughout the 1950s and 1960s. The second shown is definitely 1951 (date printed on inside front flyleaf), while some of the later ones are dated (i) to 1964 (by virtue of a 1964 JohnsonYear Book being illustrated on the back cover), (ii) to 1965 (date stamped) and (iii) to Spring 1968 (by virtue of a general price increase of imported products at the time, such that quoted prices can be compared with prices in dated magazines of the period).

Below are some amateur products catalogues and leaflets, dating from 1950-1955. Also, a trade catalogue dating from around 1953.


Front Cover

Back Cover

Pages
(incl.
index)

Printing Details

Comments

80

120 x 152mm
maybe 1949~50 ?
Printed by Hudson & Stracey
(Hills & Lacy Ltd), Watford and London

Printed for:

Anderson & Virgo
The Camera Centre
12 Foregate,
Worcester

80

120 x 152mm
1951 (on inside flyleaf)
Printed by Hudson & Stracey
(Hills & Lacy Ltd), Watford and London

Printed for:

The Moordown Pharmacy
F.S.Spiller, MPS; PDA
Bournemouth

also
(thanks to Gordon Newing):

E. WINZER, Chemist
11 NELSON ROAD
GREENWICH S.E.10

64

120 x 152mm
maybe 1953 ?
Printed by Hudson & Stracey
(Hills & Lacy Ltd), Watford and London

Printed for:

James Lloyd & Son Ltd
The Camera Shop
26 Downing Street
Farnham

64

150 x 120mm
maybe 1954 ?
Printed by Hudson & Stracey
(Hills & Lacy Ltd), Watford and London

Printed for:

Edward V Abraham Ltd
The Chemists
Crowle - Scunthorpe & Sutton on Sea

64

152 x 120mm
maybe 1955 (from camera adverts)
Printed by Hudson & Stracey
(Hills & Lacy Ltd), Watford and London

Printed for:

Durbins
Photographic Specialists
12 Broadway
Wimbledon

64

120 x 152mm
maybe 1956 ?
Printed by Hudson & Stracey
(Hills & Lacy Ltd), Watford and London

Printed for:
H E Jones & Sons
73 Northgate Street
Gloucester

Also:
Westminster Photographic
149 North St;
Brighton
Telephone BRIGHTON 28596

Also:
Dennis S.J.White
Photographic Supplies
491 Gloucester Road
Bristol, 7

64

120 x 152mm
maybe 1957 ?
Printed by Hudson & Stracey
(Hills & Lacy Ltd), Watford and London

Printed for:

J P Wheeler & Sons, M.P.S.
260 High Street
Chatham
Kent

64

(from Brian Wilkinson)
120 x 152mm
Maybe 1959 ?
Printed by Hudson & Stracey
(Hills & Lacy Ltd), Watford and London

Printed for:

George Gregory
(Photography) Ltd
22 Lwr Goat Lane
Norwich
Tel 23464

Also:
Lloyd & Gregorys
68 High Street
Cheltenham

64

120 x 152mm
1964 (on back cover)
Printed by Hills & Lacy Ltd
Watford and London

Price 6d (2.5p)

Printed for:

Simmonds Camera Shop
21 London Street
Andover

36

153 x 200mm
1965 (on back cover)
Printed by Hills & Lacy Ltd
Watford and London

Price 6d (2.5p)

Printed for:

Carrolls's
7 Crickland Street
Cirencester
Glos.

48

153 x 200mm
Spring 1968
(by contents & price of contents)

Printed by Hills & Lacy Ltd
London

Price 6d (2.5p)

Printed for:

Frith Bros. Ltd
Photographic Dept.
114/116 Heath Road
Twickenham
Middlesex

Johnson Chemicals, Tanks & Accessories for Amateur Photographers

32

125 x 213mm
Believed to be 1950
No printing details

An abridged list of some of the more popular Johnson products

1950 prices are stated. A Price Revisions list brings prices to 1951

Johnson General Catalogue of Photographic Chemicals Apparatus & Accessories

161

175 x 240mm

Maybe 1953

Johnson
General
Photographic
Catalogue

Johnsons of Hendon Ltd

Johnson Chemicals & Accessories for Photography ~ Price List

8

135 x 199mm
Believed to be 1955
No printing details

An abridged list of some of the more popular Johnson products

2

127 x 198mm
Believed to be 1955
No printing details

Single page leaflet describing the 'new' Polly-max developing tank and Fix-Sol fixer

2

127 x 198mm
Believed to be 1955
No printing details

Single page leaflet describing Con-Sol print developer, Johnson Contact Paper and the Print-a-Snap Pack

This page last modified: 12th November 2007