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Rear
After the Second World War, Argus had to shift from military production back to civilian products in a hurry. They were helped along by a big order from the US Army PX system for Argus C3 cameras, and in addition quickly got the prewar Argoflex E and Argus A2 back into production. Needing something new, in 1947 Argus brought out the Argus 21 Markfinder as an improved version of the pre-war A3 and CC cameras, and the Argoflex II as an improved version of the Argoflex E. The Argoflex II was to have an exposure counter and a body newly styled by the firm of the industrial designer Harley Earl. The design patent for the Argoflex II was granted to Fred W. Hertzler, who worked for Harley Earl Associates in Warren, Michigan. Unfortunately the Argoflex II was a mechanical failure. Production was stopped at about 300 units and only a half-dozen or so Argoflex II cameras are known to still exist. Argus had to drop back and began instead to produce the Argoflex EM and EF, which kept the metal body of the Argoflex II, but did not have the troublesome exposure counter. Sadly, Argus also omitted the field lens that would have brightened the viewfinder.
The EM and EF took size 620 film, but not size 120, unlike the preceding Argoflex E, which could take both 620 and 120. There were twelve 2-1/4" square pictures on one roll of film. The photographer would space the pictures on the film by viewing the picture numbers on the backing paper through a red window on the back of the camera. The red window had a shutter that would cover the red window when the photographer was not advancing the film. There wasn't any system for preventing double exposures or missed pictures.
The lens was the same f/4.5-18 75mm Argus Varex as on the Argoflex E. The viewing lens was geared to the taking lens. When the image was in focus on the ground glass it would also be in focus on the film.
The shutter was the same Alphax shutter as on the "E". Shutter speeds were 1/10, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100 and 1/200 second plus bulb and time. The Alphax shutter is a self setting shutter: the shutter would be cocked and released with a single motion of the release lever. This meant that the photographer did not have to cock the shutter before taking a picture, which reduced the chance of missing a good picture, but also limited the highest shutter speed to 1/200 second.
I think that one reason Argus did not fix the problems with the Argoflex II was that the company was in serious financial trouble. Management had made at about the same time an ill-advised attempt to get into the home appliance business, which was not successful and caused serious financial losses.
The advertised price for the Argoflex EF in the June, 1949, issue of Popular Photography was $65.00 plus $9.75 federal excise tax for a total of $74.75 (about $887 in depreciated 2022 dollars) - not a cheap camera.
The EM and EF took size 620 film, but not size 120, unlike the preceding Argoflex E, which could take both 620 and 120. There were twelve 2-1/4" square pictures on one roll of film. The photographer would space the pictures on the film by viewing the picture numbers on the backing paper through a red window on the back of the camera. The red window had a shutter that would cover the red window when the photographer was not advancing the film. There wasn't any system for preventing double exposures or missed pictures.
The lens was the same f/4.5-18 75mm Argus Varex as on the Argoflex E. The viewing lens was geared to the taking lens. When the image was in focus on the ground glass it would also be in focus on the film.
The shutter was the same Alphax shutter as on the "E". Shutter speeds were 1/10, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100 and 1/200 second plus bulb and time. The Alphax shutter is a self setting shutter: the shutter would be cocked and released with a single motion of the release lever. This meant that the photographer did not have to cock the shutter before taking a picture, which reduced the chance of missing a good picture, but also limited the highest shutter speed to 1/200 second.
I think that one reason Argus did not fix the problems with the Argoflex II was that the company was in serious financial trouble. Management had made at about the same time an ill-advised attempt to get into the home appliance business, which was not successful and caused serious financial losses.
The advertised price for the Argoflex EF in the June, 1949, issue of Popular Photography was $65.00 plus $9.75 federal excise tax for a total of $74.75 (about $887 in depreciated 2022 dollars) - not a cheap camera.
Confederate Memorial, Gallatin, Tennessee
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