1.25.2010

New Toy


This weekend I found a cute little addition to my little camera collection. I found this Argus Autronic I with a flash, light meter and instruction book for 20 bucks at an estate sale. The shutter seems to work well and the lens looks nice. It may or may not have been a good deal, but I don't care. I plan on buying film for it and will share what happens with you. Isn't that light meter cool? I just want to carry it around in my pocket and fiddle with it. So cool.

By the way, this is the same kind of camera that Phillip Willis used to take photos of John F. Kennedy in Dallas when he was assassinated on November 22, 1963. Phillip Willis, in case you didn't know, swore to his death that the shots that killed President Kennedy did NOT come from the Texas School Book Depository. For some interesting facts on Phillip Willis and his place in history, go here and here.

For a good laugh, there's a photo of me as an extra in Oliver Stone's "JFK" here, where I spent lots of time standing by the Texas School Book Depository talking to many conspiracy theorists.
For the record, my birthday happens to be on November 22nd so I get to hear about the assassination every year. It's like me and this little Argus were meant to be together.

2 comments:

Kenny said...

I had that same outfit 30 years ago! What memories your image brings back to me. Thanks for including the facts about the Autronic's antecedents - I wasn't aware that it was the same camera Phillip Willis had used. Great story and blog!

Kenny

Anna Dykema said...

Thanks, Kenny!