Manhattan Optical Night Hawk (Detective)
The Manhattan Optical Night Hawk is a late-19th/early-20th-century American detective camera, a class of compact box-form plate cameras designed to be used discreetly. Manhattan Optical Company of New York produced cameras of this type during the period when detective-style designs were a recognised category in the US market.
Sales data for the Night Hawk is extremely limited: a single UK auction hammer result in 2020 sells for £208, which on its own gives no meaningful range or median for what the camera is worth today in 2026. With only one wholesale saleroom data point available, the price a Night Hawk fetches at auction now would depend heavily on completeness, cosmetic condition and whether the original case and plate holders are present.
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 2020
| Date | Price | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2020 | £208 | Flints Auctions | |
|
Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science (Lot 240) Title: A Manhattan Optical Night Hawk 4x5" Detective Camera
Description:
A Manhattan Optical Night Hawk 4x5" Detective Camera, 1894-95, brown-leather covered, serial no. 147, body, F-G, shutter working, lens, unable to |
|||
|
Loading...
|
|||
Frequently asked questions
What is a Manhattan Optical Night Hawk worth today?
Evidence is thin: the only recorded UK auction hammer price in our data is £208 from 2020, so any current value estimate carries significant uncertainty and depends on condition and completeness.
How much does a Night Hawk detective camera sell for at auction?
The single sale on file sold for £208 at UK auction. With no comparable sales to triangulate against, that figure is indicative rather than a reliable market price.
What affects the price of a Manhattan Optical Night Hawk?
Condition of the wood and covering, working shutter, presence of original plate holders and case, and overall completeness are the main factors that influence what collectors will pay.