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Marco Mendoza L'Argus
France Version française
Photos by Stéphane Bouchet text by Stéphane Bouchet. From the collection of Stéphane Bouchet. Last update 2023-01-06 par Sylvain Halgand.

Manufactured or assembled in France from (Circa) 1888 to (Circa) 1898.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 14148

See the complete technical specifications

Chronology of cameras Marco Mendoza 

SFPPresented on March 2, 1888, to the Société Française de la Photographie, this detective camera in the 9 x 12 format has a quite different design compared to many other detective cameras of the time.

Firstly, the placement of the strap on the right side of the camera during use is unusual.

It also features two viewfinders with covers.

At the front of the camera, there is a shutter release button and another one to cock the guillotine shutter. You can access the settings by tilting the front panel, revealing a rotating aperture disk and a guillotine shutter actuated by an elastic band. The period instructions state that to achieve even greater speed, you should add a second elastic band, and for a slower speed, you simply need to tighten a brake.
Underneath, a wheel operating a rack and pinion mechanism allows for adjusting the focal length by extending the front face of the camera. By default, when closed, the camera provides a fixed focus with everything sharp from 7 meters to the horizon for the 9 x 12 format.
On the back of the camera, a flap opens to reveal a ground glass focusing screen on a removable frame. Removing this ground glass allows you to install what were referred to as "tabatière" (tobacco box) style film holders, which were presented as new at the time.

In 1889, the Argus became available in the 6.5 x 9 cm format, and in 1890, in the 13 x 18 cm format. In 1893, a stereo version in the 9 x 18 cm format was introduced.

The model presented here is in the 9 x 12 format and bears the number 791. It is equipped with two bubble levels.

The name Argus was also given to other Marco Mendoza cameras, including binoculars in 1895 and another detective camera in 1894, l’Argus à magasin rentrant.

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Marco Mendoza L'Argus Survolez l'image



Marco Mendoza L'Argus

Marco Mendoza L'Argus

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Leandro Benigno Carlos Mendoza, known as Marco

Born in Madrid, it is under the name Leandre Mendoza, known as Marco, that he appears in various patents filed in his name, mainly in the late 19th century. Between 1884 and 1898, there are more than a dozen patents directly related to photography.

He was admitted to the French Photographic Society during the general assembly on February 4, 1887. In this capacity, he made several interventions and demonstrations of equipment he had invented. In an issue of the newspaper Le Matin (Paris) dated 05/26/1892, an article recounts the first ascent of the balloon La Photographie française, in which "Mr. Attout-Tailfer, president of the [International Photography Exhibition], and Mr. Marco Mendoza, constructor," took their places with their equipment, "delegate commissioner for Spain and Portugal," and a member of the jury for foreign sections.

Two patents are also filed for automobile construction. He is seen participating in May 1897 in the 1st Longchamp Fleuri automobile event aboard a 2-seat Phaeton 1896.

In October 1900, it is reported in the Bulletin de la Société photographique that Mr. Vavasseur succeeded Mr. Marco Mendoza. According to various advertisements, the mention "L. Vavasseur, successor to Marco Mendoza" appeared as early as 1898. In the newspaper Le Matin of July 13, 1915, there is still mention of Vavasseur "Toutes fournitures photo" at 148 Boulevard Saint-Germain, but the business seems to have disappeared with the First World War. In 1901, Marco Mendoza is found in Neuilly as an automobile manufacturer.

Marco Mendoza's known activity in the field of photography therefore lasted about fifteen years, which probably explains the rarity of his cameras in the collector's market.

Bibliography: P. Fourneret, Marco Mendoza, l'homme au chapeau photographique, Les Fondamentaux n° 69-70, Club Niépce-Lumière, Spring - Summer 2019.

 





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