Bertsch Chambre Automatique
The Bertsch Chambre Automatique is an early French plate camera, dating from the 19th century era of fixed-focus box cameras for wet and dry plate photography. It was designed as a self-contained instrument intended to simplify exposure for the photographer of its day.
Sales data for the Chambre Automatique is extremely thin: a single UK auction hammer result of £12,000 in 2005 is the only reference point available, reflecting wholesale saleroom level rather than retail. With no further comparables, today's value for any given example is highly condition- and provenance-dependent, and what one sells for can vary widely from that historical figure.
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: November 2005
| Date | Price | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2005 | EUR 12,000 | Leitz Auction | |
|
Auction: Leitz Auction 8 (Lot AI_8_25606) Title: Bertsch Chambre Automatique
Description:
6x6cm, brass metal camera, for wet collodion, fixed-focus brass-barrel lens, metal plate engraved: CHAMBRE AUTOMATIQUE DE BERTSCH BTS S.G.D.G No.264, wooden plate holder professionally replaced, a wooden box with chemicals (of a later date), extremely rare original camera in good condition Estimate: EUR 25,000 - EUR 28,000 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Bertsch Chambre Automatique worth today?
The only recorded UK auction hammer price is £12,000 from 2005, so current value is difficult to pin down and will depend heavily on condition, completeness, and buyer interest on the day.
How much does a Bertsch Chambre Automatique sell for at auction?
With just one verified sale in the dataset, the available price reference is £12,000 hammer; further sales would be needed to establish a reliable range or median.
Why is there so little price data for this camera?
The Chambre Automatique is a rare 19th-century French apparatus that surfaces at auction only occasionally, which is why public sales records for it are sparse.