This American-made camera was known as The Brick – but still some two million photographers bought one!

Summary

The Argus "A" camera, introduced in 1936, popularized the 35mm format in the US with its low-cost, easy-to-use design, selling 500,000 units. Its successor, the Argus C3, launched in 1939, was a minor revision but became a massive success, known as "The Brick." Priced at $35, it made rangefinder photography accessible, selling two million units over 27 years and leading the company to rename itself Argus Inc.

Key points

• Argus "A" camera popularized 35mm format in the US in 1936.
• The Argus C3, nicknamed "The Brick," sold two million units.
• The C3 made 35mm rangefinder photography affordable for the public.