My "Brand New" Argus C 3

Changeling1 · May 2, 2006

I recently acquired an Argus C 3 and everything works fine, including the flashgun that attaches to the side of the camera. I have a bunch of #25 press bulbs that work in it.

But.... the Brick doesn't have place on the camera body to attach a camera strap! I guess you're expected to use the strap on the leather case which I do have for it but it doesn't look like the leather strap is strong enough to take the Brick's weight for very long. Was there any other way to carry this camera comfortably OR was it simply kept on a tripod by it's users? :confused:

This is a crazy (but fascinating) camera. Not at all user friendly! The flashgun doesn't even have a bulb ejector button!

This is one camera that you could REALLY use as a doorstop!

DBP · May 2, 2006

Congratulations! They are great little cameras. The leather strap, if it is in good shape, will support the camera quite well. If, as is quite probable, if has torn or rotted over the years, you can screw a decent size screw eye into the case and attach a strap to that.

JHannon · May 2, 2006

I have a C3 owner's manual and it shows a red button at the top of the flash gun for releasing the bulb. I think there are straps available that screw into the tripod mount on the bottom of the camera (see gordy's camera straps one of the APUG sponsors).

DBP · May 2, 2006

The red button on the flash was only in later models, not sure which you have. You may want to visit the Argus Collector's Group http://arguscg.tripod.com/ to see. Be sure to mark 6 Argust on your calendar this year.

Changeling1 · May 2, 2006

Thanks everyone! I'll have to check Gordy's- great idea- like a lightmeter. My leather case and strap are in very good condition- as if they weren't used at all and I would just as soon keep them that way. There's no bulb ejector on this one but the bulbs cool off surprisingly fast. I was spoiled by the Graflites. I think it was with the C 33s that got the "upgrades"! I just can't over the way the C 3 looks (and works)! With as many as were produced, I don't recall ever having seen one until now. (credit goes to the auction site).....

narsuitus · May 3, 2006

Congratulations on your brick.

World Wide Pinhole Day is the last Sunday in April. In addition to a doorstop, your Argus C3 also makes a great pinhole camera. Simply remove the lens and replace it with a 0.22mm diameter pinhole (0.0087 inch).

ANelles · Jun 11, 2006

Sounds like a nice camera. Yeah my leather strap came torn, they don't seem to age well. Have fun with it, it's a fairly sharp camera for such a simple lens design.

Mongo · Jun 11, 2006

Keep an eye on eBay...sometimes you'll find someone selling a stack of tripod-hole mount straps for very little money. I think I paid $6 for 15 of the things. Four of them were too brittle to use, but the other have all worked out fine. I have one permanently attached to my Brick, and it works fine.

Be well.
Dave

DBP · Jun 11, 2006

You could drill holes in the solid ends of the case and put in eyescrews.

Phillip P. Dimor · Jun 29, 2006

I just saw some family pictures from about 30 years ago, all taken with an Argus C3.
Shot on Tri-X, they looked fantastic. Fantastic enough that now I must get myself a brick! Argh! Congratulations though!

Changeling1 · Jun 29, 2006

Phillip P. Dimor said:
I just saw some family pictures from about 30 years ago, all taken with an Argus C3.
Shot on Tri-X, they looked fantastic. Fantastic enough that now I must get myself a brick! Argh! Congratulations though!

How did you know???? I had ANOTHER mouse-slipping ( ) incident just yesterday! Seems that if one (1) Brick is good then two (2) MUST be better

and this one comes with the original Argus meter!

DBP · Jun 29, 2006

Just completed my collection of C-3s, which now includes pre and post war, Colormatic, Matchmatic, and the C-3 standard I just bought, which is my 16th C-3, though I have given half of those away to worthy recipients. The C-3 got me hooked on camera collecting, especially since it is what my dad used until I was 10.

mfobrien · Jun 29, 2006

This August 5 or maybe the 6th.. is Argust day do a websearch for Argust 5th and I think you'll find the worldwide day to shoot your Argus. The C-3 IS a great camera. I just happen to live in the town where they were made, and we do have an Argus camera museum at the old factory.

DougGrosjean · Jun 30, 2006

Have fun with the Argus!

I just bought an Argus C3 at a garage sale for about $15, in Dearborn MI. Paid too much, as I found out after the sale it has fungus in the lens. But I ran a roll of film through it anyway, and rather like the result, fungus and all. The fungus results in a bit of a soft focus and a bit of flare - the local lab said taht the B/W I shot in a local ghost town cemetery appear to be IR.

So now I'm torn between fixing it, or just using it "as is". Thing about "as is" is that I don't know how fast the fungi will grow, so I don't know if it will stay "as is."

Some photos below. I was using it to document a m/c tour contest, where we have to spell out a word (m-riders) using the first letter of town names, and the towns have to be at least 50 miles from each other. Anything not pano is Argus. The cemetery shots shown are the ones that prompted the "IR" comment from the lab:

http://s60.photobucket.com/albums/h33/DougGrosjean/M-Riders_Grand_Tour_Pics-2006/

Doug Knutsen · Jul 7, 2006

Howdy - I hope this thread isn't so old that someone in the know misses it. I have a few questions concerning "the brick." Today, while wandering around garbage sales, I came up with several cameras, two of them notable: a Rolleiflex and an Argus. The Argus I'm certain is "a brick" but, and here's where the issue gets muddied, while reading DBP's post I note that there are a number of different models. How do I figure out which one I have? There's not even anything on the camera, other than "Argus." The inside of the top of the camera case might be a tip-off (assuming it's the original case) where there is a metal plate that says "Color-matic settings recommended for average outdoor conditions." I haven't tried this camera out yet but it appears to be fully functional, the glass is good, and the viewfinder is clear. Tiny, but clear.

Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Doug

DBP · Jul 8, 2006

That is almost certainly a C-3 Colormatic, which is one of the minor late variations before the C-3 standard, or a C-3 standard. There is a wealth of information on the Argus Collectors Group web site http://arguscg.tripod.com/.

Doug Knutsen · Jul 8, 2006

Thanks, DBP, I'll check that site out immediately.

Doug

Donald Qualls · Jul 8, 2006

DougGrosjean said:
So now I'm torn between fixing it, or just using it "as is". Thing about "as is" is that I don't know how fast the fungi will grow, so I don't know if it will stay "as is."

Worse than that -- if your cameras are stored in an environment with enough humidity to be reasonably comfortable for humans, the fungus can actually infect other lenses.

However, if the fungus has been in that C3 for a long time, it's likely to have etched the lens coating or possibly even the glass, and in that case you might well lose little of the "soft" quality even when rendering the camera/lens safe to keep around your other cameras. Otherwise, it's certainly easy enough to give the lens a gentle rub with a Scotchbrite pad or similar if you find it too crisp after cleaning...

Mike Kennedy · Jul 8, 2006

Fun & games with "The Brick"

My first C-3 was an ebay purchase. Loved the sellers hook "Older than dirt". Got it for .99 cents and $7.00 shipping to Canada.
The cameras leather skin was really bad. Beyond repair. I searched the web and found a site that demonstrated how to recover old cameras. I got a fake alligator skin purse from my local Sally Ann's, a bit of polibond glue,windex for cleaning and my micro tool set. Spent a snowy winter afternoon reskinning the "Brick".

Wicked looking "custom" job.

Mike

DBP · Jul 8, 2006

Mike Kennedy said:
My first C-3 was an ebay purchase. Loved the sellers hook "Older than dirt". Got it for .99 cents and $7.00 shipping to Canada.
The cameras leather skin was really bad. Beyond repair. I searched the web and found a site that demonstrated how to recover old cameras. I got a fake alligator skin purse from my local Sally Ann's, a bit of polibond glue,windex for cleaning and my micro tool set. Spent a snowy winter afternoon reskinning the "Brick".

Wicked looking "custom" job.

Mike

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My "Brand New" Argus C 3

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