Rednecks, white socks, and an Argus C-3

<p>But ah only gots a Argus A2! Hows kin ah keep up wit dem Joneses?<br>

<img src="http://sites.google.com/site/ldtomei/ArgusA202.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>A recent response on this forum:</p>

<blockquote>

<p>This is probably a big part of what's wrong with this "classic" (ahum...) camera forum: a lot of old crap still goes click, and people mistake that for being good, classic even, cameras.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Is this true? Should we properly restrict this forum to only "real classics" as told to us by our betters?<br>

Or are we a coarse bunch of lowlifes here, basically rednecks with Argus C-3s?<br>

Now with apologies to Johnny Russell ( Link to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpiYgFi42PM">Youtube</a> , Link to <a href="http://www.cowboylyrics.com/tabs/russell-johnny/rednecks-white-socks-2229.html">lyrics</a> ) Maybe this can be our song:</p>

<blockquote>

<p>No we don't fit in with that white collar crowd<br /> We're a little too rowdy and a little too loud<br /> There's no place that I'd rather be than free<br /> With my red-necks, white socks, and Argus C-3</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Show us your Argus C-3s and maybe you'll get some shiny beads thrown to you!</p><div></div>

<p>My little Argus collection</p>

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

<p>"Or are we a coarse bunch of lowlifes here, basically rednecks with Argus C-3s?"<br>

The Larry Willis Trio at the Eubie Blake Museum on 5/10/10. Shot with a 5 speed C3, Sandmar 100, Tri-X:<br>

Mr. Willis:<br>

<img src="http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m137/Proteus617/Argus%20C3/img002a640x.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Steve Novosel:<br>

<br /><img src="http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m137/Proteus617/Argus%20C3/img009a640x.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p> </p>

<p>JDM, I'm stuck between a rock and hard place here, when it comes to Arguses (Argi?). I'm a great admirer of the earlier Argus A models, because of their classic simplicity in both function and design. However, with hand on heart I have to contend their IRC makers seem to have thrown all their earlier 'KISS' credos out of the window with the later Model C 'Brick'. I reckon it's an awful device, built on the the lines of the traditional Corporate Camel Committee Credo of adding bits-and-bobs everywhere, with nobody apparently ever looking at the overall picture concept.<br>

However, I do concede that the Model C 'Brick' became in time an American icon, much like a Coke bottle or a Big Mac, or a pair of Levi jeans. Therefore I've long steered clear of criticising it, after inadvertently mentioning the word 'ugly' some ten years ago in another Classic Camera Forum. Bad move, Pete! ..... <br>

My post clearly bristled one particular guy's fond memories of his family's 'Brick', because he replied with some vehement comments about how it had been used for umpteen years and never ever had a single fault, produced thousands of pics for the family album, yadda, yadda. So how the Hell could I as a Damn Furriner dare to blaspheme against such a piece of American Classic Design? <br>

Well, how could I, indeed ....!! So I did my best to placate this latter-day Yosemite Sam, mentioning that I was a great admirer of the Argus A series but just could not somehow get to like the Brick Series, so I was not an Argus-Hating Antipodean. I'd even bought one of the earlier models plus a later Matchmatic on Ebay US, trying to discover some inspiration - but without success. So both subsequently got sold locally here in Perth - at a small profit, I might add, because they're quite rare Down Under! However, Mr Y-S Mk 11 just wouldn't take a backward step, and inferred I had somehow taken the photographic equivalent of burning a 'Stars and Stripes' flag by quoting that word 'ugly' about a Brick.<br>

Well, what to do ..... Placation had clearly failed, so we carried on an increasingly vehement on-line argument which soon brought in comments on other design plug-uglies such as the Ford Edsel. Eventually Peace Reigned, but I had learned my lesson never to make any critical comments about the Argus Brick without inviting a possible WW3. So since then I've steered well clear of denigrating the Model C online. <br>

However, a couple of weeks back I bought a copy of the 1972 'US 35mm Cameras' book published by AM Photo, because aside from my dislike of the Brick on aesthetic grounds I actually have several US-made 35mm cameras such as a Mercury 11, Perfex 55 - and of course, a couple of Argus Model A's. Well, Lordy, Lordy - I was amazed and highly encouraged to read that the two authors weren't greatly enthused either about the 'Brick', although they were very enthusiastic about the earlier Model A Series.<br>

So, my heart lifted - had I been right, maybe? Was the Brick a design disaster, which somehow had become a Folk Icon, warts and all? If sales figures alone are the yardstick, then the Brick was a great success, but I still reckon it's PLUMB UGLY, so there!</p>

<p>(Pete In Perth)</p>

<p>PS - I have a Flickr Page write-up about my US-made 35mm cameras here, but you'll not be surprised to find that the Brick doesn't get a mention:</p>

<p> <a href="

</p>

 

<p>I have (6) of these cameras. They all seem to work well upon purchase, save for clening the rangefinder windows and keeping your fingers away from the up snap of the cocking lever. My favorites are the oldest C with uncoupled rangefinder, the one I used for the autumn colors image. My rarest is the Golden Shield which appears to have been customized by someone who normally designs 1950's automobile dashboards and 1960's transisitor pocket radios.</p><div></div>

<p>Herein is the image taken with the C uncoupled rangefinder, no flash synch. model made some 70 years ago. The picture is at a small pond on RT104 in Raynham, MA USA a few weeks ago. The quality is quite good IMHO, ISO 400 film, drugstore process and scan. I did have problems with film advance and spacing as the spring stop is weak!</p><div></div>

<p>Great post. I found an old A2 in a junk box, but haven't had time to work on it yet. </p>

<p>Put a roll of film in that A2 Mike! The A series are love at first sight. The C series are ugly puppies that won't stop following you around. You want to like them, but they are so damn ugly. </p>

<p>I must confess that I do not own one. However, today is the annual Montreal Photo Flea Market in a hotel just down the street from me.... so who knows what I'll own by day's end. Again though, an Argus 'brick' isn't exactly near the top of my list.</p>

<p>The first time I ever held a C3, which was only a few years ago, I was put off by the silly shape and considered it to be a camera only worthy of displaying as an oddity in my burgeoning camera collection. After using it however, my opinion changed drastically after seeing the high quality of the pictures, and I now see the camera as a rather ingenious design. I was watching an episode of "I Love Lucy" in which Ethel had returned home and was being interviewed by the local newspaper. The reporter had a C3 complete with the large Argus flash attachment, something that, years ago, I would never have noticed. Here's my C3...</p><div></div>

<p>My C3 looks like your C3s :) Unfortunately the slow speeds have started to stick, so I guess this means I have to take it apart. From Rick Oleson's instructions and the <a href="http://www.arguscg.org/manuals/c3/gaon-repair/">tear down guide </a>at the Argus Collector Group site, it looks like it's probably one of the easiest cameras to do this myself...</p>

<p>Peter,<br /> Some things, like criticizing the "classic" status of a subject of a current thread, well, they're better left undone. :)</p>

<p>You asked for it....<br>

<a title="The Giant and Me by mfophotos, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/25/40458414_a1f8b0aba9.jpg" alt="The Giant and Me" width="466" height="500" /></a></p>

<p><img src="http://www.photochimps.com/pp/data/500/medium/Great_DOF_f16.JPG" alt="" width="799" height="535" /></p>

<p>Wow, Mark, you certainly get some shiny beads for showing that! ;)</p>

<p>Admit it, Mark, you've been feeding that Argus steroids, haven't you?</p>

Pete Naylor,

 

Apparently you didn't learn your lesson... you irascible Aussie!" You used the "ugly" word again and deserve every bit of

abuse we can throw at you! They've grown on me a bit. The first time I saw one I was a bit non-plussed. I was ignorant back then! Now I'm even more ignorant! Also major fan of the A and the Perfex! Unfortunately there aren't too many cam,eras I don'T like other than those that don't work!

 

Rick van Nooij

Envious of oyur set!

 

Matthew Rusbarsky

Nice evocative shots from Charm City!

<p>Okay, here's mine. I guess I'm just a lowlife redneck!</p><div></div>

<p>I also have the rare and seldom seen prototype!</p><div></div>

<p>They must have called it the C-3 because I can see 3 holes...</p>

<p>I have never owned a C-3 but I think it definitely deserves a spot in the museum of memorabilia. My first encounter with one was as a freshman in college in 1954 when a friend showed me some slides he had taken with one. I thought they looked good, but even at $30 back then, that was a big chunk of cash, plus I was left with the impression that 35mm only produced slides, which meant even more cash up front. I got over that in Vietnam when I bought a Konica auto S2 for $35 in the PX. The US seemed capable of producing some great precision firearms, but not cameras. Nowadays, are we able to make anything?</p>

<p>I mean <em>anything</em>. My last 11 years at Boeing was spent on the Stealth F-22 fighter, which now costs on the order of $200 million a copy. After about 7 years of dem-val (investigating concepts and prototypes), the F-22 was put under contract in Nov 1991, and finally produced a semi-operational product in 2005 or 2006. 15 years to make a fighter plane? In WW2, the best fighter plane of the war, the P-51, went from drawing board to production in a matter of months, and when combined with the Rolls Royce Merlin engine, became a wonder weapon.<br /><br /></p>

<p>Here is my C3 Match Matic. I have to confess that I have yet to use this camera, which is suprising<br>

because I would literally drool over these at the PX but the price was way too much for a privates pay.<br>

Seems to me they were around $40. The LS-3 lightmeter still works.</p><div></div>

<p>For JDM and Chuck</p>

<p>"An Ode To The Argus Brick"</p>

<p>C3 or not C3, 'Tis the question<br>

level heads need to mention!<br>

If beauty be in eye of beholder,<br>

and angular shape be less bolder,<br>

with fewer bits stuck here and there<br>

with such apparent lack of care!<br>

The might IRC who'd showed the Model A<br>

with lines smooth, and shape to sway<br>

our minds to form over function<br>

had now reached strange disjunction!<br>

So now we had that Model C<br>

with lines so straight, it couldn't be<br>

but in truth, as plain as day<br>

a camera only a mason could say,<br>

was a sight to appreciate<br>

compared to others made of late.<br>

However, each to their own<br>

must be a creed not to moan,<br>

just because some cranky old Aussie<br>

thinks a Brick be no rosy<br>

sight for sore eyes - truth or lies?<br>

So, please hold back the blame<br>

'coz he used that dreaded word 'ugly'<br>

to describe your beloved Model C, see!</p>

<p>(With Apologies To Any Bards, Living or Deceased)</p>

<p>PETE IN PERTH</p>

<p>Never saw such good poesy in the service of so ill a cause. ;)</p>

<p>Bravo, Pete.</p>