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j.ed_baker

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Posts posted by j.ed_baker

    In Praise of the C-Forty-Four

    in Classic Manual Film Cameras

    Posted

    <p>The C-3 did precede the C-44 and did have interchangeable 35 & !00mm lenses in addition to the standard 50mm. The C-3 also was still in production after the C-44 was discontinued.<br /> The one thing to watch with all the metal-bodied Argus cameras (ColorCamera,Markfinder,C-4,& C-44) is the shutter drive link tends to be fragile. Any of these should be closely watched for any hesitation in the shutter operation and the shutter flushed of migrated oil and grease. Additional information can be found on the Argus Collector's Group website. http://www.arguscg.org/</p>

    Who knew?

    in Classic Manual Film Cameras

    Posted

    Allow me to quote the owner of a black C4:

     

    "As you can see, I have no suspecion that this is not one of the original black C-4s. Anyone who knows Argus cameras would know this is too much of a project to make phony copies. If it was a Leica, that's a different matter. My Black C-4 is 0256285 and as I recall Phil's is about 150 or less lower than mine. The range would appear correct to me. Bob, Phil, and I visited the Argus Museum several years ago and had hands inspections of three at one time. We then noticed the Museum's has a max shutter speed of 200 and not 300 as the one on eBay and both mine and Phil's. It also lacked a serial number. The two I understand Joe Horvat has, as well as this one, are in a similar number range.

     

    In Don Wallace's notes at the Museum is a hand written note about 125 being made. I don't recall us finding other references to production numbers or production itself. Nothing to substantiate production for the military rumor has been documented. One was displayed by Argus in the mid 1970s at a photography show of "rare" or prototypes. I assume it was the one now owned by the Museum.

     

    Don's collection became the major source of Argus Collection when purchased by the owners of the Argus Factory building... Joe O'Neal (owner O'Neal Construction Co.) and William Martin ( Athletic Director University of Michigan). Numerous additions have been made to the collection since by others,

     

    >From rumors and the number in collections, I'd guess there are now 8-9 known. This one makes the 3rd one to appear within the last year or so on eBay. The seller says there were 5-6 made; however, that's the number used on ACG for the number known until this spurt of them on ebay."

     

    To summarize, the color is good, the serial number fits the known models and the "uncoupled" rangefinder is a common fault. The flash shoes are bronze colored and the edges of the knobs and rangefinder drive teeth show what on a Leica would be called normal "brassing".

    Who knew?

    in Classic Manual Film Cameras

    Posted

    I have handled one of the known black C-4s and this camera is very similar. The top and bottom plates are a purplish black. As to the rangefinder, an "uncoupled" rangefinder is not uncommon on the C4/44 series of Argus. The rangefinder assembly slips on its mounting screws and the gears no longer mesh correctly.

    Thoughts on possible danger in photographing White-tailed bucks in rutting season

    in Nature

    Posted

    "I was on a workshop with Rod Planck when a moose cow with two calves were walking across the road. We got out and I started walking towards them (wildlife can be so mesmerizing; finally Rod said "Hey Jeff, that is a wild animal with 2 young ones to protect; don't you think you should stop?" Which I did; I just was caught up in the moment."

    How about the folks I witnessed in ths Smoky Mountain Park this spring. You guessed it, they got out of their car to get a closer look at mama bear and her two cubs. The wife and I didn't stick around to see what might happen.

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