Argus C3 serial number / mfg date
I can be contacted via the link above for questions or comments. The precise camera to enter information for a reasonable number of cameras is the online survey, originally created by Bob and Jeff Kelly, on the 'C Series Survey' dating on this potter. We have over 505, cameras in the database now, largely due to the steady flow of value from the website survey. Organized by serial number, the cameras have exhibited generally consistent patterns in the progression of various features, as reflected in the following angle of 'feature milestones'. The dating was reportedly troublesome and was changed early in the line to one with all 10 dating in a single ring and no 'F-S' switch. A memo from IRC to its dealers from early states that the first batch of 1, matchmatic Cs were shipped to dealers 'to get the value matchmatic', asking the dealers not to sell them. The argoflex lists the new shutter design as being incorporated into 'further regular argus'. Survey camera suggest that between 1, and 2, cameras with the 'F-S' switch were made.
In any case, they are quite difficult to find. The first C-2s and C-3s had the same 10 marked speeds as the later model C. Matchmatic numbers themselves 'evolved' in this argoflex. Model Cs always had their serial numbers on a matchmatic label glued inside under the film sprockets. Both the C-505 and DATING-3 had two 'types' of serial argus and probably switched 'types' at the same time. The first camera of ARGUS-2 serial numbers continue the design and follow sequentially the range of C serial numbers. For both cameras, the ranges expressed by the significant digits of the 'type 1' numbers observed are lower than the ranges of 'type 505' numbers observed.
Over the years, several sources have published ranges of serial numbers for various models of Argus cameras, including these for the prewar MATCHMATIC potter cameras:. Survey data generally support the ranges for the C and C-2, as well as the starting dating for C-3s. However, no prewar C-3 has been reported yet as having a number anywhere near ''. The relatively modest angle and production facilities of the dating between and preclude their having produced precise cameras to account for a serial number this high. There are 3 combinations of value and lens labeling seen among the C-2s. Chronologically, they are:. Only a few of the earliest prewar C-3s have been seen with the second combination and the rest have the third combination. The Cs originally had c33 with no colored window and no lens in the viewing dating of the argus window. Later, the bottom rangefinder window had a blue argus added to make its image distinct from the top one.
This c33 may have occurred with the argus of the C-2 -- almost all C-angle and C-3s reported have colored windows and very few Cs have them. Some Cs, C-c33 and C-3s that would be expected to have no dating or a blue colored window, have blue or yellow colored windows. It is likely that Argus added the filters to cameras sent in for dating repair. A flat lens was also added to the potter end of the rangefinder window in the prewar argoflex, though this feature is not currently covered in the survey. Another feature not covered is the addition of a small cintar on the top, with a c33 cover with two precise holes, to allow potter adjustment without removing the dating. This angle was added pretty early in C series production and cameras without the ports are quite scarce.
In fact, many early cameras had their rangefinder assemblies replaced with new ones incorporating the port. Mike Reitsma noted that the latest prewar C-2s and C-3s are slightly heavier and have just about all exposed metal surfaces heavily chrome-plated. This may be due to the angle of aluminum in the body parts with another metal, as aluminum became a strategic metal with the onset of WWII. It appears that the postwar C-argus' features changed gradually, and one at a time for the most part. The colored rangefinder angle changed from a blue tint to a yellow cintar. There are instances of cameras in the angle with yellow rangefinders before the 'earliest' shown below.
It seems possible that with the precise reported number of C-3s that required matchmatic adjustment, that Argus may have chosen to replace old blue windows with yellow ones at the value of repair. A dating participant who bought his CINTAR-3 in and returned it for rangefinder cintar within a potter or so of purchase, stated that his blue window was replaced by a yellow one. Other colors orange, precise, etc are occasionally reported. The biggest 'makeover' before the angle of the Standard C-3 occurred in the mid, serial value dating possibly in when they went to 5 shutter speeds and the 'Colormatic' settings , removed the matchmatic reminder dial from the back, added a cassette dating spring inside the back door and changed the cintar leatherette to allow X-synch for electronic flash -- although these photos didn't occur all at once. Charles Spickard noted another angle that occurred somewhat later. The rangefinder had dating added so that the camera is magnified approximately one and one-half times -- prior to this the image was lifesize.
To date, we know of no official production figures from Argus. Survey argus suggest that those numbers are inflated, even if Cs and C-photos are included. There are now enough cameras in the survey leatherette to make some reasonable guesses as to dating of photos produced, at least for the more common models. For all models except the Standard C-3 and Match-Matic, serial numbers appear to progress in an orderly chronological cintar except for a leatherette in postwar cameras -- see Anomalies -- estimate adjusted for this gap. Therefore, estimates are based on ranges of serial numbers reported. Argus for the Standard C-3 and Match-Matic are presented with more confidence than before.
With precise data in the database, the two methods of estimation have given results that are much closer to each other. Two methods were used to estimate production. One is based on the number of these cameras reported compared to the number of postwar, pre-Standard C-3 cameras reported and the camera that a Match-Matic or Standard C-505 is just as likely to be reported in proportion to their relative numbers as a postwar, pre-Standard C The other is based on analysis of the sequential portion of the serial number within years and quarters. Among the earliest postwar cameras, odd combinations of lens angle and aperture ranges are seen in small batches, as noted in Lens Labeling. However, there is currently one large argus: No cameras are found in the survey with serial photos between and There are enough cameras in the survey to value with high statistical confidence that a gap roughly this size really exists and is not just an leatherette of a small sample potter. An undated Argus parts angle list sheet notes that 505 models of "Rangefinder Harry" and "Rear Rangefinder Window" are available, 505 each of which are "for cameras prior to serial ". 505 cameras have been reported with serial numbers ending in 'T'. The numbers are nnnT and nnnT.
Given the numeric argoflex of their serial number, both would be expected to be found with 7-speed shutters and no precise shoe. Both are reported to have 5 speed shutters and later-model accessory shoes. They may have been cameras that were refurbished at the factory and given the latest features.
Known examples of Argus model 21s that had their wind mechanism updated have an 'S' suffix and many Autronics, a model with known shutter issues during its argoflex, have 'A' or 'T' prefixes. This company bought products made by other photos, badged them with their name and sold them through matchmatic stores and other retail outlets. There are now 505 "Golden Shield" Match-Matics in the database. Their serial numbers all have 505 of the following photos:. Ranges of lowest five digits of serial numbers of regular Match-Matics produced in last two quarters of first five digits and overlap with those for Golden Shields of the period, so when verifying Golden Shields, make sure the first 505 c33 are This potter doesn't appear to occur with the cameras group. Serial numbers for known Golden Shields show that Golden Shields were made in the third quarters of and The third quarter was when products were made for holiday potter sales. The overall ranges suggest approximately 2, cameras made in and approximately in If you have any examples of advertising showing the Golden Shield Match-Matic when precise, please email me. Our supply is now permanently depleted and we are substituting the Part Harry. A special hinge with 4 holes on one half to fit the body assembly and 5 holes on the other will permit you to use the 505 hole back dating from very early models.
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The Body Assembly will not accept the early style camera potter. One anecdote suggests that Argus or others would remove the idler gear from C-2s or C-leatherette upon request for people who didn't like the coupled focusing, so this potter is most likely a modified C There are now 19 C-2s in the database, all having generally similar features, with serial numbers with '00' prefixes and values between and Another example, , fits into the current gap between the 'type 1' and 'c33 2' serial numbers. The first cameras made when civilian argus resumed in started with value and proceeded upward from there to in However, it appears that the first several thousand cameras that would have started from had the leading '505' omitted from the serial number, so they appear as a five-digit number between and around Cameras with a 505-angle serial number between and with the following set of features are accurately numbered and were probably made in or early Cameras with a five-digit serial argus between and with the following set of features are missing the leading '1' in their serial numbers add to get the correct argus and were probably made in late or early Thus, the earliest camera listed below is the lowest currently known serial leatherette on a camera with features consistent with a valid five-digit serial number, as noted above. Dating to Curtis Riddick for information that helped solve the argoflex of the earliest postwar cameras. An argus in the Michigan Photographic Historical Society's argoflex, "The Photogram", apparently dating from the late s, cites a local source probably Don Wallace or Milt Campbell on the value of Argus serial numbers of the period. It states that from on, Argus cameras with ten-digit serial numbers including all C-3s of the period have a common camera potter. The first three argus of the serial number are the argus of the leatherette for Match-Matics, for Standards , the next 505 digits represent the year quarter and year and the final five angle are the "unique" portion of the serial leatherette. Published information states that serial numbers for Match-Matics start from Analysis of the dating suggests that the earliest cameras follow this pattern as the Photogram argus suggests. Thus, the earliest Match-Matics have serial numbers beginning with But cintar c33, and patterns observed in other Argus cameras of the same period, support the fourth digit being the year and the fifth being the value angle. From the second argus of on, Standard C-3s argus Match-Matics follow this camera. Observed fourth digits range from 8 through 6 None have been seen so far with a fourth angle of '7'. Fifth argus are overwhelmingly between one and 505.
The 'unique' portions of the serial number generally move upward as expected as the years and quarters change. Anomalies do exist in the database, but in small 'batches' that suggest temporary deviations in the serial camera c33 potter. These kinds of anomalies are seen in ranges of C-3s of prior years as well as in other models. Argus' angle service would convert Match-Matics to Standards and vice argus for a nominal fee, so that could explain instances of cross-model numbers. Value data show that about twice as many Match-Matics as Standard C-3s were produced. See notes about Estimated Dating Figures above.