Argus Instant Load 264

Photos by Sylvain Halgand text by Sylvain Halgand. From the collection of Sylvain Halgand. Last update 2023-10-17 par Sylvain Halgand.

Manufactured or assembled in Japan from 1966 to (After) 1966.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 2265

See the complete technical specifications

Chronology of cameras Argus

Argus was the first brand to follow Kodak during the launch of the 126 cartridge. For this, the brand entrusted the manufacturing of its model 260 to Mamiya. This model was quite advanced, better than most 126 Kodak cameras at that time. This was followed by a series of several models also manufactured by Mamiya (257, 264), and then others (270, 284) manufactured by Sedic. In order to provide a complete range of 126 cameras, Argus also partnered with Balda for the distribution of low-end cameras.

The 264 is an evolution of the model 260. The latter, equipped with a AG-1 bulb flash, was considered outdated with the introduction of the flashcube to the market (1966 by Sylvania). It was modified to be able to use the flashcube. The other technical characteristics remained strictly identical.

Exposure control is fully automatic, determined by the film sensitivity.

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Flashcube

The Flashcube is covered by the patent 3,327,105, published on June 20, 1967. It was filed by Sylvania, an American company from Massachusetts. The inventors are Franklin D. Kottler, Clifford G. Vroom, and Dean M. Peterson.
The Flashcube is a set of four bulbs protected by a transparent plastic cap, designed in the shape of a cube. Under the base of the cube, two metal wires establish contact with the electrical circuit of the camera for each of the bulbs.

The patent 3,327,106 filed by Sylvania on June 20, 1967, and with Franklin D. Kottler as the inventor, defines the connection method for cameras. Patent number 3,335,651, filed by Kodak and with Franklin D. Kottler and Francis A. Williams as inventors, explains the rotational system of the Flashcube for cameras utilizing it.
Several other patents from the same era indicate that Franklin D. Kottler worked for both Sylvania and Kodak.

Kodak

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