New Argus
The New Argus or New Argus Camera (ニューアーグスカメラ)[1] is a Japanese detective camera taking 4.5×6cm film plates, made or distributed by Saneidō around 1924. It was inspired by the Ergo of Contessa-Nettel.
The predecessor of the Ergo, available until about 1913, was called Argus,[2] and it seems that this name remained in Japan as a generic name for this class of cameras.[3] This certainly explains the name "New Argus".
The New Argus is shaped as a monocular and takes pictures from the side. The mirror viewfinder is disguised inside the fake eyepiece. The camera was advertised in the November 1924 issue of Ars Camera.[4] In the advertisement, it is said to have a Zeiss f/3.5 lens. It was supplied with three double-sided plate folders and one film-pack holder.
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| Advertisement in Ars Camera November 1924. (Image rights) |
Notes
- ↑ The Japanese name is written ニュー・アーガス in Morishita, p.70 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.20, but it is ニューアーグスカメラ in the advertisement in Ars Camera November 1924.
- ↑ Date: McKeown, p.215.
- ↑ The Egorette camera was advertised in June 1932 as "a detective camera of the Argus type", while the Argus model itself had long disappeared. The American 35mm Argus A did not appear until 1936.
- ↑ Advertisement in Ars Camera November 1924, no page number.
Bibliography
- Ars Camera. Advertisement by Saneidō in November 1924. No page number.
- McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). (About the original Argus and Ergo.)
- Morishita Hajime (森下肇). "Atomu-han kamera no subete" (アトム判カメラのすべて, All of Atom-size cameras). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.22, September 1992. No ISBN number. Airesu no subete (アイレスのすべて, special issue on Aires). Pp.55–70.
