Early and Late Argus Oddities 1938/1965?

<p>I recently bought an old argus off of ebay, hoping it would be a first year C3.</p>

<p>It turned out to be a first year C2! Serial number 19808, one of the first 1000 C2s made. However it was obviously sent back to the factory for service at some point, as it has a post-war rangefinder and shutter button installed - the front plate as well was probably replaced at this time too as it chromed, and does not exhibit the tarnish of the film door and other aluminum parts on the camera.</p><div></div>

<p>The lens is very interesting. Simply marked "F3.5 Argus 50MM", and with an unusual F stop sequence. This was apparently the first iteration of the C2 lens.</p><div></div>

<p>The aperture blades in the lens are also worth noting. They're cut in an unusual shape that results in a perfectly circular aperture when stopped down.</p>

<p>But it becomes kind of star shaped at larger apertures! This lens was made before Argus started making their own lenses in 1939. I wonder who made it?</p><div></div>

<p>As well, the inside of the film door is flocked rather than simply painted flat black. But I forgot to get a picture of that.</p>

<p>The next thing though is rather interesting too...</p>

<p>The C2 came to me in what looked like a case for an SLR. It definitely was too new for a C2, and it didn't look like any C3 case I had ever seen. I figured they had just jammed it into a case meant for one of the Argus/Mamiya SLRs.</p><div></div>

<p>But what do you know? It fits my Argus Standard C3 Perfectly!</p><div></div>

<p>I'm guessing this is a case from the very end of C3 production. It definitely is not the same as the cases I've seen on Matchmatics and other Standard C3s - but it is obviously made specifically for C3s, and seems to be an official Argus product and not an aftermarket piece.</p>

<p>I assume this is from the mid 60s. I've never seen one like it before. Does anybody else have a C3 case like this?</p><div></div>

<p>your last photo tells me that this is an Argus C-3 not a C-2. The C-2 does not have the two holes that allow use of the two pronged Argus Flash Gun. By the way the flash is not synchronized for electronic flash. the only way to achieve such, should you have the adapter, is at a very low shutter speed, 1/10 or possibly 1/20th.</p>

<p>Nice cameras Dave,<br>

I was actually offered an early C-3 with a similar lens as your C-2 today. Already bought two expensive cameras a week ago, so I let it go.....</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Paul as I stated, the last photos show my <em>Argus C3 Standard</em> in the case.<br>

<em>The first photo in the original post is of the 1938 C2</em>, and it does not have any flash contacts. </p>

<p>enclosed are images of my early Argus C and late C-3 Golden Shield.</p><div></div>

<p>Late model Argus C-3 Golden Shield pictured</p><div></div>

<p>That case is for the Autronic series of cameras or else the C-33. It's been my experience that the C2/C3 switchover means you never really know if you are getting a Frankencamera or something that was re-done at the factory. This also means that it's a lot of fun finding and figuring out variants.</p>

<p>The tripod socket is in the wrong place for the C-33 and Autronic. I guess they could have attached the top from a C-33 case, to the bottom half of a C3 case - but even then the bottom case is unlike any other C-3 case I've come across.</p>

<p>Paul, thanks for sharing your cameras. The Golden Shield seems to be a pretty scarce camera to find.</p>

<p>there's an autronic case on ebay: <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Argus-Camera-Case-/170738049990?pt=US_Camera_Cases_Bags&hash=item27c0c7e3c6#ht_500wt_969">http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Argus-Camera-Case-/170738049990?pt=US_Camera_Cases_Bags&hash=item27c0c7e3c6#ht_500wt_969</a></p>

<p>Seems to be the same, except it says "Autronic" on the front, and the tripod socket is placed correctly for the Autronic. Mine just says "Argus" on it, and the socket is placed correctly for the C3. I guess it made sense to have all the cameras using more or less the same case.</p>

<p>I have a later C2, 1940. Have you had <a href="../users/philster/Argus/DatingYourArgus.htm#C3B">a look here</a>?? According to this page, if it is a C2 then it is the first year (started at 19078) but if it is a C3 then it is from 1940. </p>

<p>Yes I checked there - it does not have flash contacts, so it is definitely not a C3.</p>