INTRODUCTION

Welcome to THE ARGUS WORLD ARGOSY, a project by and for the members of the Argus Camera Collectors Group, through which we intend to pass a single Argus C-3 camera from member to member, across North America and around the world!

Each member will shoot a roll of film in this camera and then pass it on to the next ACG member on the list. He or she will then upload three of his or her photographs and some comments on each image along with either a photograph of himself or herself with the camera, or a photograph of the camera at a local landmark.

All images will then be uploaded to the Internet and linked to this web site. When the project is eventually completed we shall vote on our favorite photographs. The photographer of the top-rated photograph will win the World C-3 for keeps. Second place will receive an ACG cap and t-shirt donated by Doug Wilcox, proprietor of Dyno-Tees in Martinsville VA. Third prize is an Argus 75 camera donated by James M. Surprenant.  Fourth place will receive a copy of the 1947 book, 1001 Ways to Improve Your Photographs which was donated by ACG Member Karl Sadler. Donations will continue to be accepted for other runner-up prizes.

The Argus C-3 that will be traveling around the world is a ColorMatic model, serial number 1505859, which was donated by ACG member Doug Gould of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia (Canada) and tuned up prior to the start of the project by ACG member and camera repairman extraordinaire, Jaye Waas of Burbank, California. Jaye, who tracks the serial numbers of C-3s with known purchase dates, calculates that our World C-3 was probably manufactured in 1957-58. In addition to tuning the camera up to factory-fresh performance, Jaye has also re-synchronized the camera for electronic flash. ACG members who have a modern electronic flash with a PC cable will be able to use their flashgun with the camera.

THE PATICIPANTS & THE ROUTE

CLICK ON PHOTOGRPAHER'S NAME TO SEE PHOTOGRAPHS!
Who has it now?	Photographer	Location
1	Doug Gould	Dartmouth	Nova Scotia
2	Francis Roy	Hartford	VT
3	Richard Chiriboga	Groton	MA
4	Richard Sweeney	Lowell	MA
5	Bob Grahn	Foxboro	MA
6	James Surprenant	Manville	RI
7	J Ed Baker	Rochester	NY
X	Dan Kjeldgaard	Buffalo	NY
9	Allan Wafkowski	Pompton Lakes	NJ
10	Martin B. Reinbold	New Castle	DE
11	Alexander Rawles	Virginia Beach	VA
12	Wesley Furr	Harrisonburg	VA
13	Doug Wilcox	Martinsville	VA
14	Ron Norwood	Eden	NC
15	Bob Thompson	Statesville	NC
16	John Stepp	Clemson	SC
17	James Schenken	Aiken	SC
18	Charles Spickard	Knoxville	TN
19	Karl Sadler	Lewisburg	TN
20	Rick Oleson	Lexington	KY
21	Robert Watling	Akron	OH
22	Dan Cluey	Mason	MI
23	Mark O'Brien	Ann Arbor	MI
24	Vaughn Martens	Racine	WI
25	Tim Verthein	Bovey	MN
26	Richard Hilliger	Park Forest	IL
27	Kirk Kekatos	Grayslake	IL
28	Ed Kowalski	High Ridge	MO
29	Bill Morgan	Kansas City	KS
30	Leon Fundenberger	Topeka	KS
31	Michael Huck	Corpus Christi	TX
32	Richard Reeder	Mesa	AZ
33	Phil Sterritt	Denver	CO
34	Curtis Barrow	Great Falls	MT
35	Kirsten Barrow	Great Falls	MT
36	Dave Harris & Igor	Las Vegas	NV
37	Mike Johnson	Lancaster	CA
38	Laura Johnson	Lancaster	CA
39	Jaye Waas	Burbank	CA
40	Richard Heather	Los Osos	CA
41	David Silver	San Francisco	CA
42	Brad Barnes	Redwood City	CA
43	Toni Mitchell	Benecia	CA
44	Marcy Merrill	Tokeland	WA
45	Thomas Elmore	Anchorage	AK
46	Ken Anderson	Melbourne, Victoria	Australia
47	Simon Spaans	Delft	Netherlands
48	Daniel Gouaze	Marseille Cedex	France
49	Frik De Klerk	Rooihuiskraal	S. Africa

After initially being serviced and returned to factory fresh specs by ACG member, Jaye Wass in Burbank, California, the World Argus C-3  is now working its way east to west accross North America making stops all accross  the United States.

After its North American journey, the camera will head overseas and visit Australia, the Netherlands, France and South Africa, thus truly earning it's name, The World Argus..

The World Argus is currently scheduled to pass through the hands of nearly fifty Argus-enthusiast photographers as it passes trough forty cities in six countries on four different continents. With the camera spending approximately a week at each location, it is anticipated that this project will take up to eighteen months to two years to complete.

 RULES

• Each photographer may shoot as many rolls of film as he or she likes, but must keep possession of the camera for only one week, excluding complicating circumstances.  
• Black & white or color is acceptable.
• Auxiliary lenses and filters and other accessories may be used, but you must pass the camera on as you received it with all of the original parts and any accessories included.
• Photographers are encouraged, if they like, to include a print or two with the camera when shipping it off to the next participant.
  
• Each photographer isresponsible for scanning and submitting his or her photographs. 
• The scans, which may be up to a resolution of 600x900, should be sent electronically to argusargosy@lycos.com for upload to this web site.
• Each photographer is encouraged to submit a fourth photograph which may be either a self-portrait either taken or not taken with the World Argus C-3. Alternatively, the photograph may show the World Argus C-3 with a notable local landmark in the background. These photos will be included atop each photgrapher's page but will be excluded from the photo contest.
• A brief comment on the photographer's time with the camera which may include some basic biographical  information, the list of places he or she took the camera, interesting anecdotes of other peoples' reaction to the camera, etc. These "journal entries" will be 
• Each photographer will receive the name and address of the next recipient of the camera by email after he or she receives the camera.  Addresses will be given out as the project progresses to allow for route changes as participants may sign up or drop out.
  
• When shipping the camera off to the next photographer, you should send an e-mail message to argusargosy@lycos.com so the web site may be updated to reflect the current position of the camera. Also it is recommended that you e-mail the recipient of the camera to confirm the shipping address and then the date when the camera has been sent. Similarly each recipient should email both argusargosy@lycos.com and the sender of the camera to confirm that it arrived safely. All registered recipients will receive the e-mail address and shipping address of the participant to whom he or she is responsible for sending the camera.
• Please be certain to pack the camera well if shipping it by the postal service, FedEx or UPS.
• It is permissible to hand the camera off to the next participant if he or she is located geographically near you.   If you get together with other participants, please submit photos of your get together for inclusion on a related web page.
• Every participant in North America assumes the costs associated with delivering the camera to the next user. 
• Users outside of North America agree to assume the shipping costs of receiving the camera.
• When the World Argus' trip is complete, rules for voting in the contest will be posted. As of now, each member of the ACG at that time and/or participant in the program will have a number of equal votes that he or she may cast. (Several votes assure that photographers can't just vote for their own work.) A team of at least three ACG members will tabulate the votes. 
• The winning photograph will receive the World Argus C-3 as first prize. Second prize will be an ACG T-shirt & cap. Third prize will be an Argus 75 camera.  Honorable mention will go to the photographer of the picture that received the fourth largest number of votes.  He or she will receive a hard-bound 1947 edition of 1001 Ways to Improve your Photographs. Other prizes may be added or donated before the contest portion begins.

IN CONCLUSION...

Please bookmark this site and return often to track the camera's progress and view the photographs that will be posted as they are received!

Please address all questions and comments to argusargosy@lycos.com.

Prepared by James M. Surprenant  updated: December 2, 2002