CameraWorth.com

Dallmeyer (J.H.) Tailboard Camera

The J.H. Dallmeyer Tailboard Camera is a late-19th-century British wooden plate camera of the tailboard pattern, named for the hinged rear bed that folds down to allow the lens standard to rack out for focusing. Dallmeyer of London, better known as a lens maker, supplied these cameras fitted with its own brass-barrel optics for studio and field plate photography.

At recent UK auction, hammer prices for Dallmeyer tailboard cameras have sat in the £560–£620 range, with a median around £590 based on 2017 and 2023 saleroom results. Earlier Christie's sales from 1999 show how far this segment has moved, with examples then selling for £110–£150. Today in 2026 the value of any given example is tied closely to the condition of the bellows, the woodwork and, above all, the originality and clarity of the accompanying Dallmeyer lens, which often carries more of the price than the body itself.

I have one to sell

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.

Date Price Source
Nov 2023 £562 Flints Auctions
Apr 2021 £360 Flints Auctions
Oct 2017 £624 Flints Auctions
Nov 2006 £336 Christie's
May 2006 £456 Christie's
Nov 1999 £322 Christie's
Sep 1999 £109 Christie's
Mar 1999 £149 Christie's
Nov -0001 £238 Flints Auctions

Frequently asked questions

What is a Dallmeyer Tailboard Camera worth today?

Recent UK auction hammer prices sit in the £560–£620 bracket for complete examples with a usable Dallmeyer lens, though the price depends heavily on bellows condition and lens originality.

How much does a Dallmeyer Tailboard Camera sell for at auction?

The two most recent UK saleroom results, in 2017 and 2023, sold for £624 and £562 respectively, giving a median value of around £590.

Why does the price vary so much between sales?

Tailboard cameras were made over several decades in varying sizes and specifications, so condition of the woodwork, bellows integrity and the specific Dallmeyer lens fitted all drive significant differences in what a given example sells for.

Other Dallmeyer (J.H.) cameras