A Speed-O-Copy for the Argus 21

The Speed-O-Copy was a copying accessory made by D. (David) Paul Shull (1883-1953), Los Angeles, California. Mr. Shull was an instructor in the Los Angeles public schools for 30 years, and an inventor. The Speed-O-Copy addressed the problem of focusing and framing a close-up photograph with a rangefinder camera. Unlike a single lens reflex camera (or most digital cameras) a rangefinder camera does not show the photographer what the camera sees through the taking lens. To do macro photography you ideally needed to get a camera's eye view. The Speed-O-Copy did this by putting a ground glass focusing screen at the same distance from the lens as the film plane of the camera. The Speed-O-Copy required a camera with a removable lens. The camera body would be attached to the camera plate and the camera lens to the lens plate. You would swing the focusing screen into position, focus the lens, swing away the focusing screen and move the camera into the correct position. Versions were made for the screw mount Leica, bayonet mount Zeiss Ikon Contax, etc. The version I have was made for the Argus 21 Markfinder camera.
 

The Speed-O-Copy acted as an approximately 8mm extension tube. With the Markfinder lens set at infinity the working distance to the subject was about 14 inches. With the lens set at 3 ft. the working distance was about 9-5/16 inches. Extension tubes and auxiliary lenses to change the working distance and magnification were sold separately. An adapter was available to use the Speed-O-Copy with a microscope. Camera supports also were sold.

Before the advent of office copiers, documents were commonly photographed to make copies to keep as permanent records.

Set up for focusing.

Set up for taking a picture.

Patent Drawing for the Speed-O-Copy