American Cameras - Few Words in cmc/CMC/Classic Manual Cameras

<p>Everybody else has some kind of picture forum. I'm not proposing this as a regular item, but thought it would be interesting to see what people have.<br>

Is this to be Few Words Classic Manual Cameras?</p>

<p>Anyhow, here are a couple of American-made cameras. How many of you can post at least one picture of an American camera and tell where it's from?<br>

The picture below are a couple of "new" ones for me that need some work before I can post an 'article' with pictures. On the left is a Perfex fifty-five - a Chicago-made camera aiming to compete with the Leica and Contax (focal-plane shutter) at an American price.<br>

The camera on the right, of course, is an Argus A, from Ann Arbor, MI. Probably more important for the popular success of 35mm film (read, Kodachrome) than any other camera - priced for the masses, not the elite.</p><div></div>

<p>Possibly one of the worlds ugliest cameras, produced 1940-48 Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, NY, USA</p><div></div>

<p>OK, I'll play. Here is the Kodak Bantam, 828 film format. Rochester New York.</p><div></div>

<p>Since Rick beat me to it with the wonderful Kodak 35, I present this fine example, with dual 80mm f3.5 Kodak Anastar lenses (and a sticker inside that says "Caution, this camera does not take 120 film - Use Kodak 620 film":</p><div></div>

<p>One of my favourites is the Kodak Bantam Special. I bought it for its looks ;) Then I got 2 more..</p>

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<p>Here are two cameras with two different histories with me. The camera on the left is a Kodak Pony II. It was given to me by a co worker some years ago. I still haven't put a roll of film through it. The camera on the right is a Signet 35. It was my first real camera. I got it at a yard sale when I was 14. I still use it. Maybe again soon...</p><div></div>

<p>I'll add my Argus.</p><div></div>

<p>I can add a Ciro-Flex from Delaware Ohio.</p>

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<p>Picked-up this one a few days ago: A Kodak Duaflex ll produced in Rochester,NY. (though a bunch were also made in the UK). Simple box camera with 72mm/f8 Kodar triplet. 1/30 shutter and 3 waterstop apertures (8,11,16) with scale focusing. I re-spooled some new Kodak portra 160 and will hopefully take some pic. this holiday weekend. This camera Btw wasn't cheap; was $22 in 1950 - about $185 in Todays dollars...</p><div></div>

<p>JDM, seems like your Argus A is one of the earliest ones. S/N less than 10K?</p>

<p>Two specimens from Newark, NJ (ca. early 1940s) : <br>

The venerable <strong>Weston Master Model 715</strong> exposure meter and the <strong>Jem Jr. 120</strong> metal box camera. </p><div></div>

<p>1957 Graflex Graphic 35, Rodenstock Graflar 50mm f/2.8. Made in Rochester, N.Y.</p><div></div>

<p>I had to go look at the Argus A -<br>

it's serial number 18,383. The lens data are "Argus I.R.C. f/4.5 Anastigmat." The f/stops are f/4.5, 6.3, 9, 12.7, 18. Top speed is 1/200.<br>

details on models at ( http://theargusa.com/Models.htm )</p>

 

<p>Louis,</p>

<p>I really like the looks of your Graphic 35.</p>

<p>Hmmm, I have a large number of American cameras in my collection....</p>

<p><img src="http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/SG01.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Graflex Anniversary Speed Graphic, from June 1945 and a Graflex Miniature Speed Graphic from the first batch after May 1945. Rochester, NY</p>

<p><img src="http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/vestpocket.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Kodak Autographic Vest Pocket, Rochester NY, with US standard aperture stops. so this is a post WW1 model.</p>

<p>My WW2 Kodaks<br>

<img src="http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/kodaks.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="382" /><br>

Signal Corps Kodak 35 "PH-324", Kodak 35, Medalist from 1944 (now sold), Kodak 35 RF, Medalist from 1941.</p>

<p><img src="http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/kodakbox1.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="479" /><br>

Kodak No.2 Box Brownie from the 1920s</p>

<p>My family of Argi<br>

<img src="http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/argi.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="426" /><br>

Argus A2 (I think), Argus C-3, Argus C-44, produced in Ann Arbor, Michigan<br>

<img src="http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/argi01.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Couple of younger Argi C-3s (both sold)</p>

<p><img src="http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/cflex01.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Ciroflex Model D from after WW2 made by the Ciro Company in Delaware, Ohio ,</p>

<p><img src="http://www.flibweb.nl/flibweb/cpg143/albums/userpics/10001/normal_Perfex5501.JPG" alt="" width="400" height="342" /><br>

Currently in the mail. Another Perfex 55 from Chicago (to replace the 'firebombed' one)</p>

<p> </p>

1/6th Plate American folding tailboard, with 1910 Kodak ball bearing shutter and B&L Rapid Rectilinear Uses 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 glass or tintype plates in a wet plate holder and also has adapters for sheet film as well as 120 roll film. Has all movements rise, fall, swing, tilt, shift, and quick change lens boards. A super camera, Made In U.S.A. !!!!<div></div>

<p><img src="http://westfordcomp.com/classics/bellhowell/bhc1.jpg" alt="" width="615" height="462" /><br>

Bell and Howell ELECTRIC EYE 127</p>

 

<p>Here are 2 from my collection:</p>

<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3309/3252722092_9d05f219e3_o.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Kodak Medalist II<br>

<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3460/3181678548_bbd049fedf_o.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Bell & Howell Foton<br>

<p>Glad to see some Signet 35's, such a pretty camera - <br /> <a title="DSC_4241.jpg by leicalemur, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5293/5450237152_341a0902a5.jpg" alt="DSC_4241.jpg" width="500" height="331" /></a><br /> And, of course, the immortal Hawkeye - <br /> <a title="DSC_4263.jpg by leicalemur, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5060/5449631203_6e1565a068.jpg" alt="DSC_4263.jpg" width="331" height="500" /></a></p>

<p>And the very 'unique' Mercury II -</p>

<p>I live in Ann Arbor, home of Argus, and there is a nice Argus Museum here if anyone decides to stop by for the thrill of seeing it. Here is an black Argus C-4 that I owned for a while...</p>

<p><a title="Black C-4 front by mfophotos, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5021/5669643800_87b83a775f.jpg" alt="Black C-4 front" width="500" height="357" /></a> <br /> Certainly has to be the sexiest Argus made.</p>

<p>Then, there is the classic Argus A3 with "Streamline Moderne" styling. It, and the Argus CC were the first metal-bodied Argus camera models, and set the stage for the C4. However, the rim-set shutter and aperture and lack of RF focus were a liability, and in my opinion, kept this model from achieving popular status. The extinction meter, as usual, is pretty much useless for anything but outdoor shooting on a sunny day.<br>

<a title="Argus A3 by mfophotos, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3096/5736871607_a2a891d128.jpg" alt="Argus A3" width="500" height="297" /></a></p>

<p>Often forgotten as an American-made SLR... I assume made in Massachusetts.<br>

<a title="Sexy SX-70 by mfophotos, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2685/4182930251_1237fd4a8d.jpg" alt="Sexy SX-70" width="500" height="338" /></a></p>

<p>Wow. I am glad I started this. ;)</p>

<p>As Flounder says, more or less, at the end of <em>Animal House</em>, "Gee, this is swell"</p>

 

<p>JDM,</p>

<p>Wow. I am glad you started this. This really is a swell thread.</p>

<p>A fine collection of Argus cameras, something I always wanted to play with but never come across them here in UK.</p>