Classic Argus C3 Film Advance Mod

While it's not really a mod it's definitely a useful addition to this classic brick.

You've seen this camera before.

It's a classic.

It's also designed to be simple, reliable, and useful.

Not a single curve to be found.

I think it's a great camera, but the ergonomics of the film advance knob leave little to be desired. Winding the knob is not an easy thumb-only affair. That is, until I got on Tinkercad and made this little accessory.

I 3D printed this object and it was a terrible idea. Thick. Clunky. An overabundance of plastic. I went back to the drawing board. This was the result:

The design was better. It used less plastic, but it wasn't easy to use. The thumb-indentations were too shallow to operate with one hand. Back, again, to the drawing board.

I made the thumb-indentations deeper. Really, it's just a six-sided gear, but it works. I printed it and this is how it turned out:

The six depressions make turning the knob quite easy when the camera is up to your eye. You can quickly release the film advance button and turn the knob.


Here's a link to the STL if you want to 3D print your own. The process of making this little accessory made me think about the continuing possibility of a digital parts warehouse for typewriters. Need a key-cap? Print one!