Hey Argus fans – the Argus Museum is having their annual conference October 7-10, 2026!
Lighthouse ruins at Cheboygan State Park, MI, taken with Argus C3 by Mark O’Brien
I’m updating yet another post from the distant past (19 years distant!) to tell you about the Argus Camera Company of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Wikipedia’s very much incomplete entry on the Argus Camera Company says:
Argus is an American maker of cameras and photographic products, founded in 1936 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Argus originated as a subsidiary of the International Radio Corporation (IRC), founded by Charles Verschoor. Its best-known product was the C3 rangefinder camera, which enjoyed a 27-year production run and became one of the top-selling cameras in history. The company’s Model A was the first low-cost 35 mm camera in the United States.
The link above for the Argus C3 (aka “The Brick”) is much more complete and says the simple design and ready availability of the C3 makes it widely used even today. While that entry says the C3 was responsible for establishing 35mm, Stephen Gandy of CameraQuest hands that title to the first camera Argus made – the Argus A, declaring:
In MY always not so objective mind at least, the Argus A is undoubtedly the 2nd most important 35mm camera of all time– second only to the Leica A. If you think about it, that’s a pretty amazing legacy for a simple little Bakelite camera from a Michigan USA radio factory. It really is.
How does Argus deserve this impressive ranking? Easy, they bribed me. Unfortunately, not with money. Argus paid me off in Photographic Heritage. Building on the astounding sellout success of the Argus A, Argus sold MILLIONS of Argi, thereby establishing 35mm as the serious Amateur’s film format of choice in the largest photography market in the world, America.
If you are interested in learning more about this legendary camera, allow me to direct you to the Argus Museum which is located on the second floor of the Argus I building at 525 W William St, Ann Arbor. Doors automatically open at 8 AM until 5 PM every Monday through Friday except for all major holidays. Staff is only available in person on Friday. As stated above, the Argus Museum is having their annual conference October 7-10, 2026.
You might also want to check the local bookstore for a copy of Argomania: A Look At Argus Cameras And The Company That Made Them by Henry Gambino. The promotional copy explains:
Argus’ founder, Charles Verschoor, did not establish an empire, as did George Eastman. Nor did he enjoy a particularly long tenure as the head of the company he founded. Unlike Oscar Barnack, he did not invent anything particularly new, yet he had a tremendous impact on the photographic industry. He revolutionized the scope of the industry, not only from a technical standpoint, but even more so from a marketing perspective.
Mark originally shared this photo on Flickr, but he has moved on to Instagram. You can also tune in for his very engaging thoughts and activities in photography, camera collecting, current events, and photographic tips at randomphoto.blogspot.com where he of course has a whole lot of photos & writing about Argus cameras. Enjoy!
