NEW GLASGOW, N.S. — Since May, a father-son duo have been playing with lasers.
“I was intrigued and started doing some research and realized it was pretty unique to the area,” said Bob Anderson, who co-owns Laser Light Crystal in New Glasgow with his son, Brett Anderson.
In pride of place on a display case situated in the front of the little shop on Provost Street there’s an array of crystals arranged by size and shape. They are the canvas the Anderson’s use to create mementos that last a lot longer than a regular photo.
In the back room is where the work happens.
It looks a bit like an oven. There’s a small door on a large black appliance that slides open to receive the crystal, which is placed on a tray inside. Then the doors close, the lights go out and the work begins.
When customers choose a crystal for engraving, they can also send in photographs of what they want etched in glass.
Those images are then scanned and sent through software which arranges it onto a grid pattern that the laser apparatus follows with precision.
“One guy got his son’s face done,” said Anderson, happily showing off the image of a young boy, a startling recreation of the photograph that they were given by the customer.
Anderson said the summer months have been slower, but is hoping things pick-up for his new business come fall and winter.
“We just thought that we’d give it a go,” said Anderson about his new shop. “I’ve always wanted to own my own business.”
Anderson also says their shop has been providing a service for people who want family friends memorialized.
“A lot of images we do are of animals that people have lost,” he said. “We’re pretty proud of our work.”
Check them out at 94 Provost Street.