Argus Model A User manual

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 Argus Service Policy cnrd Gucrrcrn-
   tee
  The Argus Camera is guaranteed
 against defective material and work.
 m-anship for 90 days after shipment.
 This guarantee is limited to the return
 of the camera to the factory with trans-
portation charges prepaid, where any
 defects will be corrected and the cum-
era returned with transportation charges
prepaid.
   In order that Argus owners may be                                                       -assured of low upkeep cost of  our
cameras, after expiration of the above
guarantee,_ the factory will put in first
class condition any Argus Camera
shipped to them, with transportation
charges prepaid, and return if prepaid
to the owner for the sum of - $ f.OO.
This policy is effective for one year
from date of purchase. This does not
cover replacement of camera cases
broken through misuse or cameras
which have been abused.

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  ARGUS INSTRUCTIONS

    Wide Selection of Film Avcrilcrble
     The Argus Camera uses 35 milli-
     meter perforated motion picture film
      available in different styles of packing  i
n         1. Daylight loading cartridges-36 ex-
   I        POSufes.
       2. Daylight loading spools with paper
          leaders.
       These spools fit empty cartridges
        above mentioned or the spools may
       be used in special daylight loading
          contaihers, which are much more
            satisfactory.
     3. Argus-A gfa L8 exposure roll.
     4. Bulk film in 25, 50, and 100 foot  tI         lengths which can be loaded in dark
       room in empty daylight spools.
     5. Dufaycolor and Kodachrome natural
 q       color film arc available in daylight
           of the above types of black andI      Allloading cartridges.    white film ate procurable in several
      different American and foreign brands
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I    Ancus     INsrRUcrIoNS
     and in many different emulsions for
       every conceivable use.
         For ease of loading and simplicity the
        daylight loading cartridges, type- 1, are the
         beit. For economy, bulk film loaded at home
         is the least expensive-8O0 pictures per 100
        feet costing $t.00 or less.
          In using type 2 daylight loading spools,
        insert spool in an empty cartridge leaving
     a little of the paper leader projecting out
       of the slot and after threading on to wind-
        ing shaft wind off all the paper leader un-
          tif the actual film perforations can be en-
      gaged in the sprocket before closing the
       iamera. The daylight cartridges protect the
       unexposed film during this process. Do not
         tear off paper leaders as this will be needed
        for rewinding back on to the spool so car-
        tridge can be opened and refilled with a
        similar spool in daylight.
          In using bulk film, type 3, Agfa film is
        supplied in bulk lengths notched at inter-
         vals, just sufficient to fiIl 36 exposure car-
         tridges, and so the film can be torn off in
        the dark without further measuring
            Failure to properly use daylight loading
        cartridges in wbticb to bouse frl*.sp.ools
        uill risult in stripping pressure pad from
       coaer. Bulk filrn on ordinary sPools cannot
      be successfullv used unless enclo.red in a


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   Ancus    INsrRucrroNs
      daylight loading cartridge., Any rsed car-
      tridge that has not been bent or jamrned
     can be used in tubich to house /ilnz on open
       spools.
           If           .yoy dg. your own developing save all       ,      daylight loa,ding cartridges as they *ill come
       rn nandy. t he best way to open them without
     dlqrage is to hold at'the top, turn the car_
      tridge over, and hammer knob'on table
     bottom is driven off. Do not press in on""tltside     of cartridge.
     Youl A.rgus dealer will advise you
    as to the best type of film to use'for
     your              _ particular purpose. \We recom-
   mend that the beginner use the fast
    panchromatic emulsions such as Agfa                                       "or     Sup_erpan, Eastman Super-sensitive,
    DuPont Superior. TheJe are fast films
    with a wide exposure latitude, although
    they are not as contrasting and brilliant
    as the finer grade medlum fast films
    such as Agf a Finopan and Eastman
    Panatomic X, which are recommended
   where extremely great enlargement
     (over 8" x 10") is required.


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Ancus     INSTRUCTIONS
      For photographing indoors and un-
    der artificial light, such as in theaters'              -XX    Eastman Super      or Agfa Ultra Speed
    available in daylight loading cartridges
    should be used. This film is to% faster
    than the other suPer-sensitive films and
   makes possible indoor candid shots.





                                      Digitally signed by mike butkus
                                cn=mike butkus,mike              DN:o=orphancameras,                                               ou=29,
                               email=mike@butkus.org, c=US
                                  Date: 2018.10.27 16:49:46 -04'00'butkus

   To Locrd the Ccrmercr
       1. Remove the back cover bY Press-
                             clears slot on    i.g in catch until liP
     cou.r and pulling out on tab. (See illus-
     tration).

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Ancus     INSTRUCTIONS





   2. Pult rewind knob on bottom all
the way out and insert film cartridge
in right hand compartment with knurl-
ed end of spool up. Then lock in place
by pushing in rewind knob and turn
until shaft is fully engaged on spool
drive pin.
   3. Pull striP of film out of cartridge
and thread end through slot of wind-
                                   rA"irg shaft so it projects about
through the shaft. Then hold the film
snugly along the film track with the
fingers and furn shaft one revolution

Ancus     INsrRUcrroNs





until end of film is bent over and film
grips shaft securely. (Ot the films
where the lower perforations are cut
away on the end, care must be taken
to thread the film so it pulls level and
 straight along the track at the start. )
   4. After securing end of film take
up any slack by turning back the re-
wind knob and engage sProcket in per-
 forations so film lies flat and straight
and the sprocket teeth remain in the
 perforations.

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Ancus     INSTRUCTIONS





                                     cover,  5. Next Put on the back
sliding the cover along endwise and
seeing to it that rubber Pressure Pad
on cover presses down on tiP of car'
tridge. Insert hook in case and pressing
down on catch lock cover securely.
Ccrution-  I,f cover does not go down
easily do not force, as probably car-
tridge is not down in place and case
is apt to be broken. Remove cover and
repeat proper procedure.

INsTRUCTTONSAncus                                          H
                               merelY     a  The rubber Pressure Pad is
to hold cartridge in Place and                                        i'                              must             kt
not come in direct contact with film'                                                                       .t                                             re-       and damage is sure toJamming
sult unliss ProPer daylight cartridge is             t!
used.
  6. You must now wind off the Por-           'l   I
                                        ex-              ttion of the film which has been
posid to daylight. This is done by de-
pressing the'spacing buttcn while turn-
                                                         F\i.g  the.tu  winding^r.          "tshaft.ft   . ,-r'L-The. spacing
bu-tton is immediately released so that
the stop will again come into action.
                                                      I                                         the     If the film is ProPerlY loaded   exposure counter dial will now re-    looin. as the winding knob is turned'         i,t
  Go easy and stoP turning the mo-
   ment the sPacing catch locks the       {    sprocket; then press down the release
    button and wind'another revolution      q
    of the counting dial. \7hen the film
    stops vou will have an unexPosed
     pottio.t of the film in position- ready                                                               I    lor taking a picture. Now set the ex-                      "0" by.turn-    posure counter dial at
   ing .o.rnter clockwise. Rementber to          I
                      l0
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www.butkus.usMAKE YOUR OWN PRINTS
r6n LEss rHAN A cENT EACH
  Album prints, in 23/s, x Ar/a Argus stqn-
dcrd size, crctucrlly cost you but o pen-
ny cpiece when you use on Argus
Speed Printer ond Argus Bromex Pcrper.
    EASY, ECONOMICAL, FAST
 No focusing, no trimming ol poper;
merely insert lilm in glcrss slide crnd
plcce pqper <rs shown in illustration.
Press hondle down- Ior desired expo-
sure. Pcrper is then developed in *the
usucrl monner.
  See next poge lor excrmple of pic-
ture made with Argus Speed Printer.

                   .'AUTOMATIC"
                     List price  . .$15.00

ACTUAL SIZE OF STANDARD ARGUS PRINTS





 2s/e
  x
 4r/s





H   r*,   is the actucrl size ol pictures produced lrom 35 mm. Iilm with an Argus Speed
Printer on Argus Bromex poper.
  Argus Bromex poper comes in single or double weight, glossy, semi-mcrtt or silk linish,
in soIt, medium or hcrrd. It is cut to the size illustrated, with qllowance lor crn eighth oI
an inch border oround picture, made specificolly lor use in Argus printers.                                                                                                                         i
  Both the Argus "Automqtic" printer crnd the Argus "Electromatic" (illustrated on lol-
lowing page) opercrte on ll0-120 volt AC or DC <rnd hondle strip lilm or single negctives.

                                                                                                                  )

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NEW ARGUS ELECTROMATIC
TAKES ALL GUESS.WORK
 OUT OF PRINT-TIMING
  The "Electromqtic" Speed Printer is
equipped with o photo-electric "eye"
which "recds" the density of your nego-
tive ond gives proper exposure or tim-
ing in mcrking prints. Merely set one
indiccrtor lor negotive density, crnother
{or pcper surloce beingr used, ond flip
the starting switch. When print is cor-
rectly exposed, the light goes off. Sove
pqper by getting o GOOD PRINT EVERY
TIME; elimincrte triol ond error methods.
                                  List price
THE "ELECTROMATIC"   ..$35.00

Ancus     lNsrRUcrIoNS





           sel exposure cottnter dial by tarning
           counter-clockcuise after the f.lm sproc-
          ket has locked.
    TO TAKE PICTURES
I
     Focusing Lens lor Distqnce (18 feet

  I        to Infinity)
t
       Turn the lens and barrel slightly un-
                                     forward.       til  it unlocks and springs
     This focuses the c mera for pictures
                       \When in infinity     beyond eighteen feet.
      position the shutter and barrel of the

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 Ancus    INsrRUcrroNs
  camera can be rotated with ease. MakeF
  this test each time the camera is opened.
  (If barrel is locked in extended position
  it is focused for close-ups and not for
  distance. )
 Focusing for Close-Ups (6 feet to
    18 feet)
   STith the lens in infinity position,
 as previously described, turri either
 way until it locks against rotation. This
 allows the lens to come forward slight-
  ly and camera is now focused for any-
 thing betrueen 6 and 18 ,feet.
     Stopping down the lens by setting
     the diaphragm increases the depth of
     focus, so that by stopping down to
   _f6.3 clear pictures can be made in
     the short focus position from 5 to
    20 feet. For closer shots use portrait
     attachment.
 Set Shutter Speed
   The speed of the shutter is set by
 rotating the engraved front plate until
 the speed wanted is opposite the
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Ancus    INsrRUcrroNS
 grooved line on the metal ring just
 above the trigger. "25" means L/21 of
 a second, "2OO" means L/2OO, etc.
    "T" is for time exposure-the shut-
     ter opens when the trigger is de-
    pressed and remains open until the
     trigger is pressed the second time.'   \7hen set at "8" the shutter remains
    open as long as the trigger is held
    down and closes upon release. \When
     either "T" or "B" are used the cam-
     era must be held on a tripod or held
     firmly on a perfectly stationary ob-
     ject. For correct setting of shutter
     speeds see "Time of Exposure".
 Set Dicrphrcrgm (Lens Opening)
   CaurtoN-Always note diaphragm
  setting before taking a picture.
   The iris diaphragm regulating the
 aperture, or the amount of light pass-
 irg through the lens to the film, is
 operated by moving the lever on the
 bottom of the shutter, which, in turn,
 moves the pointer on top of the lens
  indicating the various stops.
    For the correct setting of diaphragm
.    opening and of shutter speeds see the
     table on "Time of ExPosure"-61
                       r3

www.butkus.usAncus     INSTRUCTIoNS
   better yet, use a reliable exposure
    meter.
  S7ith the camera loaded and fo-
cused, the shutter speed and diaphragm
set, you arc ready to take your first
picture.
"Aim It crnd Tcke It"
  Aim the came ra by looking through
the view finder and snap the picture
by pressing the trigger.
  The camera should be held steady,
resting against bony structure of face,

Ancus     INsrRucrIoNs
and the pressure on the trigger should
be gradual so that the camera is held as
                                                        isstilf as possible while the shutter
operating.
   The secret of clear, sharp negatives
   with a miniature camera is firm hold-
   ing and steady shutter release. This
    is especially true when using shutter
    speeds slower than t/50 of a second.
  To avoid possibility of tremor, it  is
   always advisable to use the highest
    possible shutter speed that light con-
    ditions will permit. Illustration shows
    best method of holding. Lens barrel
   can be turned into most comfortable
    position. This feature is especially
    useful in taking vertical shots.
     The Argus wire cable release helPs
   a lot in making exPosures without
    disturbing vibrations. Use the Argas
    Cable Release with tba Argas Cam'
   era! The plunger of other cables
    often slips by the release lever and
    jams. the shutter, necessitating costly
     fepalrs.
 Advcrnce the Film Alter Each Ex-
   posure
   Immediately after taking a picture
 press down the release button and turn

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www.butkus.usAncus    IwsrRUcrroNS
 winding knob clockwise until resist-;r
 ance is met and the counter diat has
revolved one revolution minus one
 Space. Ccrution-Do not hold down
 relecrse button crfter counter dial
 starts to revolve or the Iilm stcp
 will not be in operction crnd {ilm
 will be wasted.
   Should you fall to wind the film
       af.te,r .an exposure, a second picture    will be taken on top of the pievious
   one and both pictures will be ruined.
  Do not continue to turn winding
   knob after resistance is felt as th;
    sprocket is then locked and the film
    perforations will be torn.
   \S7hen the end of a finished film is
   reached care must be taken not to
    tear it from the spool, otherwise it
    cannot be rewound. To save the films
    the camera would have to be opened
    in the dark room. So watch t6e ex-
   posure counter dial.
Rewinding Finished Films
  After 36 exposures, or number of
exposures provided by length of film,
rewind the film back into the daylight
loading cartridg.     turning the "re-
              :J

Ancus     lNsrRUCTroNS





wind button on the bottom of the
camera clockwise.
  \When rewinding, be sure to pull
out rewind knob about L /8" away fromcase for easier access to fingers, and
also back up winder knob slightly to
releave film tension. Be sLue camera is
held to avoid any finger pressure on
counter wheel or winder knob.
"Speed" and o'Arg'u,s" Synony-
  tmous
  $7hile the foregoing detailed des-
cription m y seem complicated, when
once understood the Argus is one of
                    17

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Ancus    INsTRUcrroNs
                           \Whenthe fastest cameras in existence.
it is carried with the shutter and dia-
phragm correctly set for the prevail-
ing light conditions the camera can be
aimed, focused, and the picture
snapped in less than three seconds.
You- simply unlock the lens, aim the
camera, and fire. The lens comes out
automati cally into focus.
Time of Exposure
  Correct timing of exPosures deter-
mines the quality of your pictures. The
nearest approach to correct timing can
be had through the use of exPosure
meters which measure the light and
give you the shutter speeds for the
various diaphragm settings and are ad'
justable fo] the different speeds of
emulsions available in motion picture
film.
  In the absence of an exPosure meter
the following table will give f airly
accurate results. It is based on the use
of super-sensitive films with a speed
rating of z4 degrees Scheiner.

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