Argus C-44?

[Fedzilla_Bob]

It has arrived, the Argus C-44. And, it's better than I thought. Well mostly, you will hear why later

This is a very solid camera. More so, than I had heard before. And it has a funky (I mean it) "California Saddle Leather" case. You can check out the photos below.

There is film inside of it, I exposed the last few frames. There are also two rolls of Ektachrome 400, unexposed.

The down side-- there is a camera bag that came with it. But it wreaks to high-heaven (and hell) of centuries of tar and nicotine. When I opened the box I nearly fell over. I felt I like was taking my first drag of one of my Father's unfiltered Chesterfield cigarettes. I honestly got woozy. Out of desperation I hosed the bag down with Fabreze. We will see how that turns out. I have some Cadilliac leather lotion waiting for it.

The shutter sounds as though it is trying to hit the right speeds, we'll see how that is later.

The photos...

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

OK- two more images of the case 😀

 

[nwcanonman]

Ain't it funny how nice the cases themselves are, but the straps are always broken? At least in the ones I've seen, hmmm!

 

[nwcanonman]

I'll post pics of the C-3 Matchmate, together with the C44, with it arrives hopefully this week ~ ; - )

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

Hi- I was lucky the strap is in decent shape. It will be great to see your argus cameras when they come in.

Any tips on getting strong smoke smell out of leather? I have heard vinegar works. I will probably do that then towel dry it and follow up with leather lotion.

Bob H

 

[nwcanonman]

The "Fabreeze" suggestion is the only thing I've heard about the should work on tobacco smell. I works well in our house, and we have 5 dogs - RUFF! LOL. 😀

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

Febreeze didn't do it. It still reeks- badly.

Latest list of possibilities

• Noxema
• Sunlight
• Zymol leather cleaner and lotion
• Murphy's oil soap followed by leather lotion
• Fumigate with ammonia then lotion
• Place in a sealed container with charcoal from pet supply store
• Fill with newspaper and place into a garbage bag filled with more newspaper

All of these were Googled or are anecdotal remedies from my wife and friends.

The original owner's lungs probably look worse than those of a coal miner.

The C-44 by itself does not reek. Apparently it was kept in the eveready case and that was kept in the bag.

The camera has been used but was well kept. Very little damage from cleaning marks on the lens.

 

[nwcanonman]

Well, good news about the C44.
So toss the leather case - problem solved ~ ; - )

 

[CleverName]

If you can't get rid of the smell of the bag, I smoke and probably wouldn't notice it so much. I'd be more than happy to take it off your hands 🙂

 

[nwcanonman]

Hi- I was lucky the strap is in decent shape. It will be great to see your argus cameras when they come in.
<snip<.......

Bob H

Bob,
My new Argus just arrived! Not the C44 I thought it was, it's a C-4 instead. It's all the extras with it that blew me away.
Tiffen series 5 lens adapter with Tiffen UV filter AND Tiffen sun-shade. A Kodak filter holder with a Wratten yellow filter, the flash attachment (with it's instructions) and a rubber lens cover, leather camera case and leather bag to hold evereything. Best of all a GE type DW86 lightmeter that WORKS (came in original box with instructions!) all for $9.99usd.

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

Very cool kit you have there. Let us know when you get your first images. I think it deserves a cup-a-joe.

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

If you can't get rid of the smell of the bag, I smoke and probably wouldn't notice it so much. I'd be more than happy to take it off your hands 🙂

Clevername- I doubt even you would miss the odor I encountered when I first got the camera and bag. I don't know if you remember your first cigarette, this bag brought it all back to me. I stopped smoking years ago (smokeless for 20 years) and my reaction was just like when I was 14 and sneeking off with one of my Father's cigarettes.

Actually, I am making progress with repeated sprayings of Fabreeze. The smell goes down about 2 notches for each treatment. This will be followed by a rubbing or two with Noxema. Then leather cleaner and lotion. You can tell I really want the bag. It's compact and will hold any of my cameras nicely along with film and an extra lens

Finally learned how to remove the lens to get a look at the shutter. It's monumental! The leaves are made of blued steel. However on my camera they have begun to rust. The shutter opens and closes just fine though. I will have a photo of this later. I suspect that a gentle cleaning with swabs dipped in Ronsonol with help to remove that rust. Any suggestions anyone?

I have been using my Blitz cloth (you can find them here at a good price) and a "Pink Pearl" eraser to remove grunge and oxidation from the aluminum parts. The C-44 cleans up nicely. It even looks kind of swanky.

The shutter is loud, like a miniature crack of lightning. This camera sounds like it means business. Still, not as loud as my Canon T70.

Bob H

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

BTW- since this was dubbed the C-44 and Vodka thread earlier, I have learned that Trader Joe's carries Monopolowa Vodka for $9.99 US. Which is a mighty fine price.

 

[Krasnaya_Zvezda]

That's the price for 750ml bottle here. Prosit!

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

Good news- I have first film from my C-44 and I like what I see.

It seems a little soft focus, but I refuse to believe that Steinheil would produce lenses that are soft in the wrong way. I suspect two things-- First, my rangefinder may be slightly out of adjustment (there indications that I will describe later. Second-- The film pressure plate is beautifully chromed and "quilted" piece of metal (more on this as well).

Item the first--
The viewfinder is a little hazy. Not as bright as my FED2. There is no focus patch and I can see that when the two images match, they are misaligned in the oddest way I have seen to date-- they are off diagonally. Imagine two lines crossing each other at a very slight angle. Solutions anyone?

Item the second--
When light gets through the lens and then the film, what is left will bounce right of that beautifully chromed pressure plate and back through the film. Maybe I am nuts for thinking this. But, I am willing to bet that it does and that when it does it will diffuse the exposure enough to be noticable. I have a solution for this-- black gaffers tape.

Otherwise, I have some nice images from it shot with Kodak Gold 100. The colors are saturated which I figure is a characteristic of that film (it was on sale and 100 ASA which about all this camera can manage). You can see them here

Now, for the Leather bag that came with it-- It goes almost every where I do, barring bed, showers or the bathroom. It has been saddle-soaped, leather lotioned and siliconed to within an inch of it's long life (the bag is about 47 to 50 years old). It rarely smells like a cigarette at all. It is buttery smooth. My Bessa travels in it mostly, ocassionally joined by the Argus. The strap did not survive, it was cracked enough to make me worry about it's capablities. I replaced it with an extra Lowepro strap I had around.

I have pictures of it, the first showing the before, the others are the bag in it's restored glory.

Bob H

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

Thanks Gman! I lost my internet connection here or else I would have seen your post sooner.

The bag was an interesting project in itself.

Any suggestions on the diagonal misalignment? Also, I am about to do the Canon QL17 following your fine instructions.

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

Ot

Ot

I have discovered the one thing that smelled worse than the camera bag did...
Skunks, no one warned me that San Diego has tons of them. Our family pooch got nuked last night. Big Time.

Remedy-
# 1 quart (or liter) of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide, H2O2.
Use fresh (unopened) hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Hydrogen peroxide eventually turns into water (H2O).
# 1/4 cup (50 ml.) of Baking Soda
# 1 teaspoon (5 ml.) of Liquid Soap
# 1 pair of plastic or latex gloves


Wash the pet with it, don't get it in their eyes, the gloves will keep your hands from getting smelly. Follow up with a mild solution of Murphy's oil soap.

It worked, Angel is a 75 pound dog and she smells better than before she got skunked.

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

sorry, didn't work out that way.. had run out at 11pm to get a half gallon of peroxide. Iknow... its OT 🙂

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

One of cats actually had an "EEEEEEW" kind of look