I first became aware of Argus cameras back around 2000. I believe that I purchased an Argus 75 at a thrift shop in Cheboygan, MI around that time. I was living in Ann Arbor, the home of Argus, and in a short time, I had acquired a C-3 and perhaps an Argus A. The most amazing thing at the time was finding out that Ann Arbor had a museum devoted solely to Argus cameras, the Argus Museum. It’s still there, but is now part of the Washtenaw Historical Society’s domain, and no longer the private collection of Joe O'Neal. Over the years that I lived in Ann Arbor, the Argus Museum became the gathering place for Argus collectors, as well as an exhibit space for film-based photography. Cheryl Chidester, the curator, was largely responsible for the growth of the Argus Museum and its activities.
My interest in Argus cameras blossomed, and along with my daughter Jorie, we accumulated a pretty good collection of Argus cameras and paraphernalia. I don’t even want to venture how many Argus models we owned, but it was quite a few. At that time, the prices for old Argus cameras was stunningly low. It was during those early 2000s that we ran into some really dedicated Argus collectors and photo historians, and we eventually attended an Argus Collectors Group meeting in 2005, meeting even more people that were interested in Argus.
My only claim to having achieved something in Argus collecting, was when I purchased an old Argoflex TLR and a few other cameras from Allan Bulgrin in Dearborn, MI in 2004. That Argoflex II was unique, and as the ill-fated Argoflex II was destined to the scrap heap, the few remaining Argoflex II models that survived - 6, are highly sought by collectors. The Argoflex II that I once owned (I sold it to Joe Horvat in 2011) has slanted script lettering, and it’s believed that it may have come from Harley Earl’s (the designer) studios.
My second great Argus find was an all-black Argus C-4 that arrived in a box of unwanted cameras. That one took my breath away as I pulled it out of the box! I also sold that one to Joe Horvat in 2011. My Argus collecting days are long over, and now I only own one C-3 and a C-4 that I occasionally use. Everything Argus that I had previously collected has been sold off or given away.
The reason that I’m writing this is to pay tribute to a book that was published in 2023, that I had finally purchased this year. Argus. Fine American Cameras, by Bob Kelley, Ron Norwood, Mike Reitsma and Phil Sterritt (ISBN #979-8-218-29489-2), is I believe, the final word on Argus cameras and the company that made them. This 480-page tome contains all the knowledge regarding Argus cameras, and is a truly amazing piece of work. I’ve met all of the authors in my previous term as an Argus collector, and they have coalesced all their knowledge into a very readable and useful publication. Incredibly well-illustrated in color with a wealth of useful information, Argus, Fine American Cameras certainly deserves broader recognition not only as a resource on Argus cameras, but also as a history of American manufacturing and business practices.
The original price for the book was $124.99, which I have heard barely covered the printing cost. Obviously a labor of love by Kelley, Norwood, Reitsma, and Sterritt, this is more than just a collector’s book. It’s a fascinating look at American industry and how post-WWII fortunes were made and lost. You also get to see every model of Argus that was manufactured, as well as ones that never made it to production. Not just the cameras, but the entire Argus ecosystem is inside this book. Projectors, light-meters, darkroom supplies, enlargers, and accessories. Pick a chapter and read it, and you’ll become amazed at just how much is packed into this book.
You can purchase Argus. Fine American Cameras at a steeply discounted price of $49.95 directly from their website. You can email directly at argusbook@argusinfo.net
No comments:
Post a Comment