Adams Minex Studio Reflex
The Adams Minex Studio Reflex is a British large-format single-lens reflex plate camera, made by Adams & Co. of London for professional portrait and studio work in the early twentieth century. It uses a mirror-and-bellows reflex design typical of pre-war studio SLRs, with a fitted lens and ground-glass focusing for waist-level viewing.
Recorded UK auction hammer prices for the Minex Studio Reflex sit between £1,500 and £2,200, with a midpoint around £1,900 across the two sales on file. As a low-frequency lot, the price a Minex Studio Reflex sells for today at saleroom level depends heavily on completeness, lens fitted and cosmetic state, and the limited sample size means any single result can swing the apparent value materially.
Sales History
Prices shown are UK auction hammer results — the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom. Neither buyer’s nor seller’s commission is included. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher.
Prices updated: May 2011
| Date | Price | Source | |
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| May 2011 | EUR 2,200 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 19 (Lot AI_19_12829) Title: Adams Studio Minex
Description:
reflex studio camera, polished mahogany body, lacquered-brass fittings, focal-plane shutter (in-operable), internal 45° mirror, Aldis Triplet Anastigmat 5.6/20 inch no.85201, on an Adams Minex adjustable mahogany studio stand, a very rare camera and stand, very attractive - ex Barron Collection Estimate: EUR 4,000 - EUR 5,000 |
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| Nov 2006 | EUR 1,900 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 10 (Lot AI_10_15660) Title: Adams & Co. Studio Minex
Description:
English single-lens-reflex camera for plates 6½ x 8½", focal plane shutter 1/2 to 1/100th sec., With J.H. Dallmeyer 4B f/4 lens no.38917 and a Watson & Sons Premier 15x12" f/5.6 lens. Ex Spira Collection purchased Christie's London, April 25,1974, lot 98. Illustrated in "Camera Antiquarius", by Fea, Torquati & Rogliatti, 1981, page 227. Patented by A.L. Adams and B. Foulkes-Winks (No.19,406, 1912). See British Journal of Photography, Sept. 19, 1913, page 730. Introduced in 1912, advertised in the BJPA 1913 and 1914, then again in 1928 to 1931 and with an improved model with side swing front and later non-resilient mirror frame, from 1932 to 1940. Even though this camera was advertised for many years very few survive today. Estimate: EUR 2,500 - EUR 3,000 |
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| Dec 2002 | £1,527 | Christie's | |
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Auction: THE BRITISH CAMERA 1840-1960 THE JIM BARRON COLLECTION (Lot 37) Title: Studio Minex camera
Description:
Studio Minex camera Estimate: £600 - £900 |
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| Feb 1999 | £368 | Christie's | |
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Auction: Cameras and Optical Toys (Lot 536) Title: Studio Minex
Description:
Studio Minex Estimate: £25 - £100 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is an Adams Minex Studio Reflex worth today?
Based on the limited UK auction record, hammer prices have ranged from about £1,500 to £2,200, so a complete, working example tends to value in the low-to-mid four figures.
How much does an Adams Minex Studio Reflex sell for at auction?
The two recorded hammer results are £1,527 in 2002 and £2,200 in 2011, giving a rough midpoint near £1,900 before commission.
What most affects the price of a Minex Studio Reflex?
Bellows condition, mirror quality, the presence of the original lens and plate holders, and overall cosmetic state are the main drivers of value for this model.