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Houghton Ensign Special Reflex

The Houghton Ensign Special Reflex is a British-made single-lens reflex roll-film camera from the early twentieth century, produced by the London firm Houghton (later Houghtons-Butcher / Ensign). It was positioned as a serious amateur and advanced hobbyist SLR in an era when reflex viewing through a waist-level hood was the preferred system for action and portrait work.

Sales data for the Ensign Special Reflex is very thin, so any guide to its worth in 2026 has to be read with caution. The single UK auction hammer result on record sold for £38 in April 2024, which sets a wholesale saleroom benchmark rather than a retail price — clean, complete examples with a working shutter and intact bellows would typically sell for more, while incomplete bodies tend to fetch less.

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: April 2024

Date Price Source
Apr 2024 £38 Flints Auctions
Jul 2000 £35 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is a Houghton Ensign Special Reflex worth today?

On the limited evidence available, one UK auction hammer sale recorded £38 in 2024; that is the only verified price point, so the realistic value of any given example depends heavily on condition and completeness.

How much does a Houghton Ensign Special Reflex sell for at auction?

The only logged UK hammer price is £38, which reflects wholesale saleroom level before buyer's premium rather than a dealer asking price.

Is the Ensign Special Reflex a good user camera?

It is primarily a collector and display piece; the focal-plane shutter and bellows are usually the limiting factors, and most buyers value it for its history rather than as a practical shooter.