Argus Museum facts for kids
A Gallery in the Argus Museum
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| Established | 1987 |
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| Location | Ann Arbor, Michigan |
The Argus Museum is a cool place in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It's on the second floor of a building that used to be a factory! This museum shows off amazing cameras and other items made by the Argus camera company. You can learn all about the company, the people who worked there, and see unique collections.
The museum's main goal is to collect and protect everything related to Argus cameras. This includes old products, books, and stories about the company and its workers. They also research the products and the people who made them. All these collections are available for people to learn from. The museum wants to share these items with everyone to help them understand and enjoy the history of Argus.
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What You'll Find at the Museum
The Argus Museum opened in 1987. It started with a special collection from Don Wallace. Today, the museum has many rare items.
Cool Cameras and More
You can see giant camera models like the 75, A4, C3, and C4. These huge models were used at trade shows to grab attention! There are also experimental Model 12 cameras. Each one has a different kind of lens that could collapse. You'll also find Model A cameras in many colors. These were very popular with collectors.
The museum also displays many versions of the Model C3 camera. This camera was so common that over two million were sold! People often called it "The Brick" because of its shape.
Stories of Argus Employees
The museum also shares stories about the people who worked at Argus. You can see old employee ID badges. There are also items related to the many sports and activities that Argus sponsored for its workers.
The displays include products made under all the company's different names. These include International Radio Corporation and Argus Camera Incorporated. You can see many cameras, projectors, viewers, and other accessories. Even darkroom equipment from throughout the company's history is on display.
Argus and the Wars
The museum also tells how Argus helped during World War II and the Korean War. They made special sighting devices, prisms, and lenses for the military. You can see a M72 Telescope that was used in Sherman Tanks. There's also a M18 sight. This sight was used with Britain's 57mm anti-tank gun, called the Britain Six-Pounder.
The Argus Archives
The museum has a huge collection of old photos and documents. You can find instruction booklets, advertisements, and manuals. But one of the best sources of information is the Argus Eyes. This was the company's own newsletter.
While it had articles about new products, most of the newsletter was about the employees. It shared news about births, marriages, deaths, and retirements. It also talked about soldiers returning home and those who were lost. You can read about social events, vacation stories, and funny everyday moments of the Argus employees.
Art and Events
The Argus I Building is a great place to show off artwork. The museum often has photography exhibits. They feature artists from the local area, especially those who use film to create their pictures. The museum also hosts meetings, book signings, and a special conference for Argus camera collectors.
History of the Argus I Building
The building where the Argus Museum is located has a long history.
- Around 1866: The first building here was made of wood. It was a shop for making cabinets. Later, it became a furniture factory.
- 1879: A new four-story brick building was built.
- 1881: The original wooden building was covered with brick. It was then connected to the new brick building with another brick section.
- 1931: The International Radio Company bought the building. This company later became Argus Camera Incorporated.
- 1940-1951: Several parts were added to the building. This was to handle more business, especially military contracts.
- 1963: The University of Michigan became the owners of the building.
- 1983: First Martin Corporation and O’Neal Construction bought the building.
- 1987: After being fixed up, the building reopened. This is when the Argus Museum was established inside.
