Version française
Chronology of the Argus brand
Manufactured in Etats-Unis from 1939 until 0.
Index of rarity in France : Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Sold listing on Ebay.com
Inventory number: 625
See the complete technical specifications
The Argus-series are 35 mm (with the exception of a newer model made of plastic and which is a 126, not shown here) made of bakelite (for the front part) and metal (for the back) . The rear part made of metal is completely removable. The lens is mounted on a retractable, spring loaded tube.
Series A are as follows:
On all Argus A ( except FA) , the rear part is decorated with geometric "Art Deco" designs.
On the A2F , the optical exposure meter is topped by a rather elaborated calculation table . Sliding tab has a small arrow to be put in front of the index of the exposure meter which is bright enough . This arrow is visible on the picture of the rear part of the camera .
The upper part of the tab is a rail wherein are sliding two zippers . One is calibrated to indicate the sensitivity of the film , the other (on the top of the photo) for the aperture. The top should overlap the lower to hide the figures above that of the film sensibilities. This figure sensitivity should then be positioned in front of one of the four indices of cloudiness ( Bright , Average , Cloudy , Light Int . ) Which also slides the upper scale and position the aperture figures in front of the shutter speeds.
The trigger on the lens / shutter block is strangely done because the kind of cap unscrews and you can then screw a cable release .
Finally, and this is what distinguishes the A2F from an A2B , there is a distance adjustment ring at the base of the lens barrel.
| A |
1936-41
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| AF - minor modifications |
1937-38
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B (in spite of its name, it belongs to the series of the A) - lens 2,9 |
1937
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| A2B - with optical exposure meter |
1939-50
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| A2F - with optical exposure meter and f:4.5 lens |
1939-51
|
$32,08 en mai 1950 |
| AA |
1940-42
|
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| A3 - Redrawn body with the rounder forms. It does not seem any more to be made of bakelite. |
1940-42
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| FA - Different body |
1950-51
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External Links:
To add a photo of the box of this model
To add advertising for this model
 Popular Photography de 1939 |
Video for the model (contact me for future addition)