Argus C3

Photos by Sylvain Halgand text by Sylvain Halgand. From the collection of Sylvain Halgand. Last update 2023-10-16 par Sylvain Halgand.

Manufactured or assembled in USA from 1941 to (Circa) 1952.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 384

See the complete technical specifications

Chronology of cameras Argus

The Argus C2 and C3 cameras have a parallelepiped shape. Their form and weight have earned them the nickname "Brick." They are 35 mm cameras (135 film) with a rangefinder coupled to the focus distance adjustment. The lens is interchangeable, with the standard being the Cintar 3.5/50 mm lens optimized for color. The Micromatic shutter allows speeds from 1/5 to 1/300, plus the B (bulb) mode. The silhouette is distinctive, featuring a notched wheel with a rangefinder window in the middle. Rotating it drives both the lens and rangefinder adjustments through a gear mechanism. For nearly thirty years, the camera saw minimal external changes, with the most noticeable being the lens shape.

The inventor of patent No. 2,298,787, which encompasses the Argus C, is the Belgian Gustave Fassin. The applicant is International Industries Inc, based in Ann Arbor. The filing took place on December 6, 1939, and the publication occurred on October 13, 1942.

On October 20, 1941, Argus filed a patent for a shutter improvement (on the right), with Clinton H. Harris listed as the inventor. The silhouette matches that of the C2/C3.

In 1942, patent No. 2,298,107 protected flash synchronization on a camera, featuring the drawings of the C3. The inventor was William F. Carr.

The C2, C3, and their derivatives were significant commercial successes in the United States. The longevity of these models was exceptionally remarkable. An attempt to modernize it in 1959 with the Argus C33 didn't gain much traction. The C3, particularly popular in families, even managed to make its way into the world of cinema, in the hands of one of the characters in the Harry Potter saga.

Models and variants :

	Years	Special features

C	1938	No coupled rangefinder
C2	1939-41	No flash synchronization
C3	1941-52	No Argus nameplate on the front
C3	1952-58	Argus nameplate on the front
C3	1958-66	Lens settings visible from the top of the camera
C3 Matchmatic	1958-66	Beige color, delivered with a removable light meter
Golden Shield	1958-	Special coating, delivered with a removable light meter
C33	1959-61	Modernization attempt

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This early variant of the Argus C3 does not have a nameplate on the front.

In 1941, the C3 was sold for $33.50, and the C2 for $28.50.

Interesting links or bibliography :

Sur Camera-wiki.org, suggested by Sylvain Halgand

Popular Photography de 1940

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