This uncommon lens was made in limited numbers from 1939 for the Argus C3 Brick. Optics were by Bausch & Lomb. It is one of the more desirable lenses among collectors of Argus. Until the 1950s, it was the only prime interchangable lens available for the C3 other than the normal 50mm Cintar.

I recently purchased this example from an important Argus collector out West (lives in CA and Utah).
After cleaning, I wanted to give it a quick test. I started with a body cap for Pentax P/K mount, then cut a hole in the cap just large enough to screw the lens into the plastic material.
I then mounted it to my Pentax ist D digital camera body.
Lens - to- image - plane distance is different between Argus C body and Pentax body, due to the location of the Pentax SLR mirror placement. However, this modified rig allows for focus from a maximum of about 3 feet down to about 20 inches.
Test shots wre with lens set wide open at max aperture of f/5.6. DOF seemed pretty good, even at this aperture and at such close distances.

Lighting was dim and with ordinary light bulbs, available light and hand held, so I shot these with digital body set at ASA 1600 and white balance set at "tungsten."
I bet this lens would perform very nicely at smaller apertures with more light.

Please click on thumbnails to see enlarged.
All images are Copyright 2013 E.J.Kowalski.