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Houghton Ensign Roll Film Reflex Tropen (Tropical)

The Houghton Ensign Roll Film Reflex Tropen is a tropical-finish roll film SLR, built with teak or similar hardwood panels and brass fittings intended to resist humid climates. It is an early 20th-century British-made reflex camera, aimed at professional and serious amateur users working in hot, damp conditions where leather-covered bodies degraded quickly.

At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Ensign Roll Film Reflex Tropen have sat between roughly £200 and £360, based on the limited sales on record. As of today the market value is driven heavily by cosmetic condition of the wood and brass, and a clean example sells for noticeably more than a tired one, so a median around £280 is a reasonable reference point for what the camera is worth in 2026.

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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
Feb 2024 £120 Special Auction Services
May 2020 £355 Flints Auctions
Nov 2015 EUR 550 Leitz Auction
Nov 2005 £204 Christie's

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