chromatic-aberration Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 I've heard rumors that there was a military version of the Argus C3 made during WW2. According to those rumors, it had olive drab leather in place of the normal black. Can anyone confirm or deny? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard_oleson Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 I don't think I've heard of that. I've seen olive drab Argus A's, don't know if there was a military connection there, and signal corps Kodak Signets and Bolseys, and I've seen an army service manual for the C3 so I know they did use them.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene m Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 Never heard of one but I think a C3 would have made a formidable weapon in hand to hand combat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chromatic-aberration Posted January 27, 2007 Author Share Posted January 27, 2007 Richard... You wouldn't happen to have a picture of said green Argus? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicaglow Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Yes, I saw a reference to that on the web somewhere when researching my C3. I can't confirm it for sure, but I'll keep my eyes open for that info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtk Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Pardon my ignorance but wasn't the C3 mfg post WW2? 1947? And yes I agree it was/is a formidable weapon! Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob_the_waste Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 The Argus C3 was started in 1939. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winfried_buechsenschuetz1 Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 When I was looking for information about my C3 somewhere on the web I found an excerpt from a US army service manual for the C3 shutter. I do not know whether this was a special version, at least the shutter mechanism is identical to the standard version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j.ed_baker Posted January 29, 2007 Share Posted January 29, 2007 Photos of several colored A's can be seen on the Argus Collector's Group site on Yahoo. http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/arguscg/photos/browse/868e Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfophotos Posted January 29, 2007 Share Posted January 29, 2007 From everything that I have heard, and I have the most reliable sources that exist - No Military version of the C-3 existed. Argus made LOTs of tank periscopes, and other optics during WW II, but no military versions of their cameras. Many were certainly used during the war, but not by military photographers (with one exception, but it was his personal camera). Even the olive-drab A is debatable as to its use by the military. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chromatic-aberration Posted January 29, 2007 Author Share Posted January 29, 2007 From what I understand, the green Argus A was simply a color variation with no military connection, much like the various colors that the Kodak Brownie box cameras were manufactured in. Given the existance of a military manual for the use of the C3, I'm comfortable using it in a reeanctment setting (the genesis of the question). The photos that I've seen of the Signal Corps photographers from the unit I'll be modeling the character on (3rd Signal Company of the 3rd Infantry Division), shows a number of cameras in use other than the standard issue Speed Graphics. At least in that setting, personal cameras seem to be well utilized. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard_oleson Posted January 29, 2007 Share Posted January 29, 2007 I think you're right about the green A, but not positive. (There was a military black/OD kodak 35, which was their answer to the argus A and not much more sophisticated) You should be safe with a C3 in your reenactment. To be authentic for the WWII period, get one with an uncoated lens and no shoe on top (and no chrome "argus" logo at the lower front corner) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick_van_Nooij Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 Also the older Argi C3s had metallic exposure counters on top instead of the plastic ones if I'm not mistaken. I've tried getting the military Kodak 35, the PH-324, but prices have soared these past few years. I'm thinking about just painting up a civvy one for re-enactment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
profhlynnjones Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 Hi Chris, To the best of my knowledge there wasn't a military version of the C3 (my first advanced camera and the first photo I sold to a major magazine ine 1947). The Bolsey compact 35mm camera was made in for military use, an all black version during WWII. Good cameras, good lenses, lousy Alphax shutter. Lynn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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