I won this Argus Model C in silent auction at ACG Gathering 2012, Eden, North Carolina.
It needed cleanup and some repair.
I removed and disassembled the rangefinder assembly, cut a new internal mirror, reassembled and calibrated.
Lens needed all surfaces cleaned, internal and external.
The speed escapement is not functioning, but instead of opening up the camera to investigate, ruining the leatherette in the process, I elected to determine the value for the one speed (it tested at 1/150 second)and leave it at that.
The "mushroom" button was missing atop the shutter release, but a small hex nut functions well enough.
Serial number is 18110C, and camera was produced in Ann Arbor either 1938 or 1939.
Rangefinder is not coupled, and lens is uncoated glass in a Cooke Triplet configuration.

Today was a warm summer day with variable cloudiness, and I took the camera for a test along the Meramec River.
Castlewood Park has always been a popular place for St. Louisans. Up until the 1950s, the bluffs had numerous cottages, lodges, and other attractions, and it was a summer getaway of choice for people in the city. The structures disappeared in the last half century as development in the large resort lakes took away the overnight crowds, but Castlewood still attracts a good crowd as a day use area state park.
The river can be treacherous with its drop offs and strong currents, so swimmers are advised to be cautious.
The sand on the big beach surprised me, it was the same sort of sand that I remember from the beaches on Lake Erie in Pennsylvania.

On my way home I stopped at the river a few miles downstream in Valley Park. We are having a dry season and the water was way down, so I was able to walk out to the gravel bars midstream.

Camera was loaded with ASA 200 Kodak print film, everything shot at 1/150, mostly between f/11 and f/18, except for the forest shot, which was wide open at f/3.5.

Please click on thumbnails to see enlarged.
All images are ©2012 E.J.Kowalski.