When was my Argus camera made?

Copyright 2004-2008 by Phillip G. Sterritt. Contributions of Dan Cluley, Mike Reitsma and Brian Waddell and the Michigan Photographic Historical Society gratefully acknowledged.

Last updated 9/9/2009.

For pictures of Argus cameras to help in identifying which model you have, Click here.

Establishing dates of manufacture for Argus cameras is an inexact art. Click here to read comments and assumptions about this guide.

This site is not affiliated with any current incarnation of Argus Camera Company.

Cameras by model:

• A
• AA
• AF
• A2B
• A2F
• B
• FA
• A3, CC
• K
• M
• Camro 28, Minca 28, Delco 828
• C
• C-2
• C-3 (prewar)
• C-3 (postwar)
• 21
• C-4
• C-4R ("Rapidwind")
• C-44
• C-44R ("Rapidwind")
• A-four
• C-twenty
• Autronic C3, 35, I and II
• Argoflex E
• Argoflex EM
• Argoflex EF
• Argoflex 40
• Argoflex 75
• Argus Super 75

A

1936 - 1941

Serial number: on a label inside above the film rails in the format "No. nnnnnn" where nnnnnn is between 1037 and 211589 with no suffix.

Features:

Lens labeling:

• Argus Ilex Precise: 1936 - 1937
• Argus IRC Anastigmat: 1937 - 1941
• Argus IRC: 1941

Sprocket wheel inside camera:

• Single gear, brass: 1936 - 1937
• Double gear, aluminum: 1937 - 1941

Rewind knob:

• Thin: 1936
• Thick: 1936 - 1941

Has Tripod socket:

• No: 1936
• Yes: 1936 - 1941

AA

1941

Serial number: on a label inside above the film rails in the format "No. nnnnnnn AA" where nnnnnnn is between 500000 and 513250.

Features:

No known variants.

AF

1937 - 1938

Serial number: on a label inside above the film rails in the format "No. nnnnn AF" where nnnnnn is between 5000 (1937) and 70138 (1938).

Features:

No known variants.

A2B

1939 - 1950

Serial number: on a label inside above the film rails in the format "A2B nnnnnnn". Published ranges are inaccurate. Empirical data suggest nnnnnn is between roughly 50000 and 250000.

Features:

• Uncoated lens: March 1939 - August 1942
• Coated lens: July 1946 - December 1950

A2F

1939 - 1941

Serial number:on a label inside above the film rails in the format "A2F nnnnn". Published ranges are inaccurate. Empirical data suggests range of nnnnn is approximately 1000 (1939) to 40000 (1941).

Features:

No known variants.

B

1937

Serial number: on a label inside above the film rails in the format "No. nnnn - B". Published information stating range is "shared with model A" is incorrect. Empirical data show nnnn is between 1000 and 1999.

Features:

Too little data on known variants.

FA

1950 - 1951

Serial number: None -- date stamped inside in the bay where the film goes, in format YYMM, where YY is year (50 or 51) and MM is month. Stamped in dark numbers on a black surface so hard to see under the best of conditions.

Observed range: 5000 (?) to 5105

Features:

No known variants.

A3, CC

1940 - 1942

Serial number: stamped on the inside of the back in the format "0nnnnn" where nnnnnn is between 100000 (October 1940) and 140980 (1942). The two cameras share the same set of serial numbers and it's not known if different ranges were used for each of the two cameras.

Features:

No known variants.

K

1939 - 1940

Serial number:on a label inside above the film rails in the format "No. nnnn K". Published ranges are inaccurate. Empirical data suggests range of nnnnn is approximately 1000 (1939) to 3100+ (1940).

Features:

Too little data on known variants.

M

1939 - 1940

Serial number: on a label inside on side of lens housing in the format "Mnnnnn" (four or five digits). Range approximately M1000 - M13500.

Features:

No known variants.

Camro 28, Minca 28, Delco 828

1947 - 1948?

Serial number: on a label inside on side of lens housing in the format "19- 1nnnnn". Ranges by model overlap; Camros tend to be earliest, Mincas in the middle and Delcos later. Known advertisements: Camro 28: Fall 1947, Minca 28: December 1947. Estimated range across all models: 19-100000 through 19-150000.

Features:

No known variants.

C

1938

Serial number: on a label inside below sprocket holes in the format "nnnnnC" where nnnnnn is between 1000 and 19077.

Features:

• "F-S" switch below shutter cocking lever, ten shutter speeds in two concentric rings: 1000 - roughly 2800
• No "F-S" switch below shutter cocking lever, ten shutter speeds in single ring: roughly 2800 - 19077

C-2

1938 - 1942

Serial number: Either:

• on a label inside below sprocket holes in the format "nnnnnC" where nnnnn is between 19078 and roughly 62300
• stamped inside under the lens opening in the format "02nnnnn" where nnnnn is between roughly 62300 and 90000+.

Ignore all but the nnnnn.

Ranges in the following table were adjusted based on comparisons of feature evolution and serial numbers in C-2s and C-3s.

Features:

Shutter speeds:

• Ten, marked 5 through 300: approximately 1938 - 1941
• Seven, marked 10 through 300: approximately 1941 - 1942

Shutter release:

• "Mushroom": approximately 1938 - late 1939
• Cylindrical: approximately late 1939 - 1942

Lens Labeling:

• f3.5 Argus 50mm: approximately 1938 - 1940
• f3.5 - 50mm Argus Cintar: approximately 1940 - 1942

Lens Apertures:

• 3.5, 4.5, 6.3, 11, 18: approximately 1939 - 1940
• 3.5, 4.5, 6.3, 9, 12.7, 18: approximately 1940 - 1942

On camera back:

• No film reminder dial: approximately 1938 - 1940
• Weston film reminder dial: approximately 1940 - 1942

C-3 (prewar)

1939 - 1942

Serial number: Either:

• on a label inside below sprocket holes in the format "C3nnnnn" where nnnnn is between 10001 and roughly 23700
• stamped inside under the lens opening in the format "03nnnnn" where nnnnn is between roughly 23700 and 89000+.

Ignore all but the nnnnn.

Published information that states that the prewar C-3 serial numbers run through 03690326 is not supported by survey data and probably a typo, but 0390326 is a possibility.

Features:

Shutter speeds:

• Ten, marked 5 through 300: approximately 1939 - 1941
• Seven, marked 10 through 300: approximately 1941 - 1942

On camera back:

• No film reminder dial: approximately 1938 - 1940
• Weston film reminder dial: approximately 1940 - 1942

Lens Apertures:

• 3.5, 4.5, 6.3, 11, 18: approximately 1939 - 1940
• 3.5, 4.5, 6.3, 9, 12.7, 18: approximately 1940 - 1942

C-3 (postwar)

1945 - 1966

Serial number:

1945 - 1957: Stamped inside under the lens opening in the format "nnnnn..." where nnnnn is between 0nnnn and 1740000.

The first cameras made when civilian production resumed started with 0nnnn and numbered perhaps 50,000 cameras. At some point, serial numbers were apparently reset to 0nnnn and proceeded upward from there to 1740000.

Any camera with a five-digit serial number can be said to have been made between 1945 and late 1946 or early 1947. If it has a coated lens (whether labeled as such or not), it was made July 1946 or later.

* there is a large gap between 12nnnnn and 13nnnnn

1958 - 1966: Stamped on the bottom of the camera body as a ten-digit number. For these cameras, the year of production is indicated by the fourth digit of the serial number, 'X' in this example: nnnXnnnnnn. This includes Golden Shield Match-Matics.

EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE: Survey data suggest that:

• Match-Matics with serial numbers starting with 18218... were made in the first quarter of 1958.
• Match-Matics with serial numbers starting with 18228... were made in the second quarter of 1958.
• Match-Matics with serial numbers starting with 18437... may have been made in the third quarter of 1961.
• Standard C-3s with serial numbers starting with 19218... were made in the first quarter of 1958.

Features:

Lens coating: Uncoated before July 1946. Some coated lenses are labeled "Coated Cintars", others don't have the "Coated", so look closely.

Shutter speeds:

• Seven speeds 10 - 300: 1945 - 1953
• Five speeds, unevenly spaced: 1954
• Five speeds, evenly spaced: 1954 - 1957

On the back:

• Weston film reminder dial: 1945 - 1948
• A.S.A film reminder dial: 1948 - 1954
• Three strips of leatherette separated by chrome trim: 1954 - 1957
• Solid leatherette: 1957

"Argus" badge on front below shutter cocking lever:

• No badge: 1945 - 1950
• Badge: 1950 - 1957

21

1947 - 1951

Serial number: Eight-digit number with leading zeros. Either:

• Stamped on the bottom. The earliest and latest cameras have serial numbers here. Because the bottom is part of the back and is removed completely from the body to load and unload film, backs from one camera will fit another.
• Stamped inside below the film opening near the film rails. Cameras in the middle of the range have serial numbers here.

Features:

• Hinged gate over film takeup spool (inside camera): 1947 - 1948
• no film loading gate 1948 - 1951

C-4

1951 - 1957

Serial number: Stamped on the bottom, one to four zero prefix.

Because the bottom is part of the back and is removed completely from the body to load and unload film, backs from one camera will fit another.

Features:

Wind Knobs:

• Coarsely-fluted wind knobs: 1951 - 1952
• Finely-fluted wind knobs: 1952 - 1957

Color-Matic markings (red AND yellow markings on aperture scale, rangefinder dial and shutter speed dial):

• No Color-Matic markings: 1951 - 1953
• Color-Matic markings: 1954 - 1957

Flash sync switch:

• M/F: 1951 - 1954
• M/X: 1954 - 1957

The elusive black C-4s have been seen with and without serial numbers. Serial numbers and features suggest 1952.

C-4R ("Rapidwind")

1958

Serial number: Stamped on the bottom, "160" prefix.

Because the bottom is part of the back and is removed completely from the body to load and unload film, backs from one camera will fit another.

C-44

1956 - 1957

Serial number: Stamped on the bottom, "00440" prefix.

Because the bottom is part of the back and is removed completely from the body to load and unload film, backs from one camera will fit another.

Features:

Two variants of the front logo and film speed indicator exist. The earlier design has the shutter speed indication below the dial and the stylized "lens and prism" logo below the Argus name. The later design has the speed dot above the dial, and no "lens and prism" logo. This change appears around 1/3 of the way through the serial number range.

• First style: 1956
• Second style: 1956 - 1957

C-44R ("Rapidwind")

1958 - 1962

Serial number: Stamped on the bottom, "173" prefix. The year of production is indicated by the fourth digit of the serial number, 'X' in this example: nnnXnnnnnn.

Because the bottom is part of the back and is removed completely from the body to load and unload film, backs from one camera will fit another.

C-44Rs with highest known serial numbers have "3" as the fourth digit. Generally believed that no C-44Rs were made after 1962, but perhaps there was a batch made up from the remaining parts at the end of production.

Features:

Two distinct body styles were manufactured. The first is essentially identical to the C-44, with the rangefinder housing separate from the rewind knob and a dull painted silver finish to the top housing. The second style has a satin chrome finish to the top housing and the rangefinder housing extends to the edge of the camera so that the rewind knob (while retracted) is flush with the top of the housing.

• First style: 1958 - late 1959
• Second style: late 1959 - 1962 (63?)

A-four

1953 - 1956

Serial number: None -- date stamped inside in the bay where the film goes, in format YYMM, where YY is year (53 through 55, no known 56) and MM is month. Stamped in dark numbers on a black surface so hard to see under the best of conditions. Many cameras have no stamp but may have another two-digit number stamped, usually in a circle -- this is probably an inspector's code.

Features:

Three variants in features:

• Earliest cameras (through January 1954) have:
  • no Colormatic markings for focusing.
  • Shutter speed 1/100, aperture f/8 and 15ft marking on the focus scale are in red. Shutter speed 1/25 is in green to indicate flash setting.
  • Shutter speed markings on the bottom of the shutter face are the same as appear on top of lens barrel.
  • The focus scale extends to 2.5 feet, and depth of field markings are present for apertures through f/16.
• The second group (February 1954 through mid-1955) have:
  • Colormatic markings on the focus scale, a yellow and a red dot on either side of the 15ft marking.
  • Aperture f/8 is in red and there is a yellow dot between f/8 and f/5.6. Shutter speeds on the top of the lens barrel are all in white.
  • Shutter speed markings on the bottom of the shutter face are 'Flash' in green (1/25), 'Color' in yellow (1/50) and 'B&W' in red (1/100).
  • The focus scale extends to 2.5 feet, and depth of field markings are present for apertures through f/16.
• The third group (mid-1955 through 1956) is like the second, but:
  • The focus scale extends to 2 feet, and depth of field markings are present for apertures through f/22.

C-twenty

1957 - 1959

Serial number:

C-twentys have a ten-digit serial number stamped on the bottom. There are two formats: Earlier models begin with '020' (made in 1957 and perhaps 1958), later models begin with '140'. On the latter, the fourth digit tells what year they were made (8 = 1958, 9 = 1959).

Features:

No known variants.

Autronic C3, 35, I and II

Autronic C3: 1960

Autronic 35: 1960 - 62

Autronic I: 1962 - 1964

Autronic II: 1962 - 1965

Serial number: Stamped on the bottom of the camera body as a ten-digit number. For these cameras, the year of production is indicated by the fourth digit of the serial number, 'X' in this example: nnnXnnnnnn.

Features:

No known variants.

Argoflex E

1940 - 1948

Thanks to Dan Cluley for survey information about the Argoflex E features.

Serial number: Six-digit number, stamped inside on the door, just above the hinge. Because production was split by WWII and precise ending production dates (prewar) and production resumption dates (postwar) are not known, it is very difficult to know where to split the serial numbers for the last prewar and first postwar cameras. Coated lenses begin around 820000 and the general reference for coated lenses beginning at Argus is July 1946.

Features:

Last cameras made seem to have six-digit serial number starting with 9 and a larger viewing lens. Though the viewing lens is not marked as such, it is the f/3.5 lens intended for the Argoflex II. These are probably leftover parts from that model, being used up on other cameras.

• Cameras with uncoated lens: 1940 - 1942, also maybe 1945, early 1946
• Cameras with coated lens: 1946 - 1948

• Cameras with second small knob on left side: 1940 - 1941
• Cameras without second small knob on left side: 1942 - 1948

Argoflex EM

1948

Serial number: Ten-digit number, stamped inside on the door, just above the hinge. Often very hard to see.

Features:

On earliest cameras, the raised trim that goes around at the top of the body and runs down the front under the taking lens is chrome. On later cameras it is black.

Some of the earliest cameras have a larger viewing lens. Though the viewing lens is not marked as such, it is the f/3.5 lens intended for the Argoflex II. These are probably leftover parts from that model, being used up on other cameras.

Argoflex EF

1948 - 1951

Serial number: Ten-digit number, stamped inside on the door, just above the hinge. Often very hard to see.

Features:

No known variants.

Argoflex 40

1950 - 1954

Serial number:None -- some cameras have date stamped inside in the bay where the film goes, in format YYMM, where YY is year and MM is month.

Features:

There are two locations where these cameras are identified. One is one the metal trim plate on the top front of the camera, and the other is engraving around the viewing lens. The earliest cameras, known as the "Model Argoflex", have no logo on either the trim plate or around the lens. These are very rare. Next the name "Argoflex" appeared on the trim plate as well as on the trim around the lens. These seem to have been followed in short order by cameras with "Argoflex" on the trim plate and "Forty" on the lens trim, which lasted a few years until "Argus" replaced "Argoflex" on the trim plate. Variations exist within these combinations, however, so currently the metal trim plate is the most helpful feature.

Logo on top of metal front trim plate:

• no logo: 1950
• Argoflex: 1950 - 1953
• Argus or Argus 40: 1953 - 1954

Argoflex 75

1949 - 1964

Serial number: None -- some cameras date stamped inside in the bay where the film goes, in format YYMM, where YY is year and MM is month. Others have full date like "November 10 1960".

Survey results indicate the logo on the top of the front plate of the similar Argoflex 40 changed from "Argoflex" to "Argus" around 1953. Since the 75 was in production at the same time, it's reasonable to conclude that its logo also changed from "Argoflex" to "Argus" at the same time.

Features:

Logo above viewing lens:

• Argoflex Seventy Five: 1949 - 1953?
• Argus Seventy Five: 1953? - 1958
• 75: 1958 - 1964

Body color:

• Black: 1949 - 1958
• Brown: 1958 - 1964

Argus Super 75

1954 - 1958

Serial number: None.

Features:

No known variants, except cameras labeled 'For School Use' are 1955 or later.