He was first listed in the directory for 1895 as a photo-material importer at 11 Alma Chambers, off Grenfell Street, Adelaide, an address he shared with photographer Ernest Gall (q.v.).
In May 1895 he became a member of the South Australian Photographic Society. He showed prints and lantern slides at the society’s monthly meetings, conversaziones and annual exhibitions, and also provided displays of cameras and general photographic supplies. He was made a member of the executive committee in 1896, elected treasurer in 1897, 1898 and 1899, then elected secretary in 1900, but had to resign in February 1901 ‘owing to the pressure of business’. He was elected president in 1904, for one year.
By 1896 S.P. Bond was advertising a darkroom for the use of amateur photographers, to which enlarging facilities were added around 1898. In 1897 his directory entry included a showroom at 48 Pirie Street; in 1901 he also had temporary premises at 103 Rundle Street, near the Arcade.
At the society’s December 1896 meeting he demonstrated a simplified form of the collotype process which was suitable for the use of amateur photographers. ‘By means of the photo- autocopyist Mr Bond showed how to obtain, in printing ink, permanent prints from any negative’. In June 1899 he provided a one-guinea prize for ‘the best single photograph of an existing early South Australian landmark’ which was won by F.A. Joyner’s picture, The Last Cottage at Klemzig.
A major advance took place in August 1901 when the firm, now S.P. Bond Ltd. moved into a new building which had been built at 51 Rundle Street for Griffiths Bros, the tea and coffee merchants. The facilities available in the new premises were described by the Kapunda Herald:
'The needs of amateur photographers and novices in that pleasant and popular pastime [photography] are to receive even greater attention than in the past. For this purpose commodious and completely-equipped instruction rooms have been set apart, under the supervision of one of the most capable lady photographers in the State, who will devote the whole of her time to the thorough instruction of purchasers of appliances at the establishment in all branches of amateur photography … A darkroom for developing negatives is also provided for patrons who may not have the accommodation at their homes. In stock are to be seen appliances for all grades of photographers, from the 5s. Kodak amateur to the most proficient of professional men.’1
A month later the firm informed the society: ‘With reference to the forthcoming exhibition to be held by your society, we have pleasure in making you the offer for intending exhibitors of the use of our enlarging room free; also, for work intended for the exhibition, the free use of any 12 × 10 bromide paper, Wellington & Ward make’. The offer was accepted.
The firm also supplied a magazine type hand camera as the prize for the best picture entered in the photographic section of the 1901 Kapunda Show, and Mr Bond spoke on ‘printing for winter evenings’ at the June 1902 meeting of the Kapunda Photographic Club. The firm also supported the Kapunda club’s January 1903 exhibition by supplying a set of eight sepia-platinotype views made by the late H.P. Robinson, one of England’s leading pictorial workers. Another picture on loan from S.P. Bond was A Daughter of Eve made by another prominent English pictorialist David Blount. It had won several gold medals and was highly regarded by critics in England and Australia.
Around 1903 club demonstrations and trade displays previously done by S.P. Bond himself were taken over by one of the firm’s employees, A.H. Kingsborough (q.v.). However, after Kingsborough’s death in 1910 this business appears to have been resumed by the firm’s principal, who gave a lantern entertainment at the Semaphore Photographic Society’s April 1913 meeting and demonstrated the Pasget colour process before the same club six months later.
S.P. Bond Ltd. was still a major supplier of photographic material and equipment in the 1930s.
1Kapunda Herald, 23 August 1901.
Text taken from:
Noye, R.J. (2007) ‘Dictionary of South Australian Photography 1845-1915’, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide. CD-ROM, pp. 51-52.
- Writers:
-
Nerina_Dunt
- Date written:
- 2013
- Last updated:
- 2013
