Argus Autronic I

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 1960 to (Circa) 1962.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 630

See the complete technical specifications

Chronology of cameras Argus

Patent No. 3,147,682 presents a camera with the silhouette resembling the Autronic series. The inventors are Orbie E. Lind Jr and Maurice K. Carr. The application was filed on November 14, 1960, and it was published on September 8, 1964. This patent pertains to focusing.
Other patents (Nos. 3,147,682 and 3,191,512) with Orbie E. Lind Jr as the sole inventor relate to automatic exposure control. They were filed on the same day with the same attorneys, but the applicant is Mansfield Industries of Chicago, with which Argus merged in 1962.

The description of the invention is as follows:

This invention relates to photographic cameras and par-ticularly to the control of focusing mounts therefor espe-cially for automatic exposure control cameras.
The present invention contemplates a camera wherein the lens assembly, which comprises an iris diaphragm and a between-the-lens shutter, is mounted on a focusing mount which translates during focusing with respect to the camera body. The photocell operated exposure meter may thus be mounted on the focusing mount and directly connected to the diaphrgam by means not disturbed by focusing of the lens.
It is therefore a major object of the invention to pro¬vide a novel and economical manner of mounting the focusing mount carrying the lens, shutter, diaphragm and meter assemblies for accurate precise translation with re¬spect to the film in the camera.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel camera wherein the focusing mount is slidably mounted at the rear side of an opening in the front wall of a camera and the lens and shutter assembly is secured to the focus¬ing mount and projects forwardly of the opening.
A further object of the invention is to provide a novel camera wherein the focusing mount carrying the lens as-sembly is slidably mounted on at least one post at the rear of the front wall and a control lever pivoted on the wall has one end engaged with the focusing mount and the other end engaged with a focusing control member such as a cam rotatable in the front wall.
Another object of the invention is to provide a novel manner of controlling focusing adjustment of a mounting member carrying the lens and shutter in a camera wherein the member is spring loaded in one direction and shifted in the other direction by a lever pivoted on the camera and bearing at its other end on a focusing cam.
Another object of the invention is to provide in a camera a novel coupling between a lens focusing system member and a range finder adjustment member wherein the mem¬bers are actuated at the same time by a composite cam and wherein the controlling cam surfaces for the respec¬tive members are in fixed relative position.

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The Autronic I differs from the Autronic 35 in terms of its lens, which is less bright on the Autronic 35. Visually, the shutter release button is different. It is black on the Autronic I and has a thread for a cable release.

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