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Thornton-pickardmfg. Co. Automan

The Thornton-Pickard Automan is a British-made plate camera from the early twentieth century, produced by the Manchester firm Thornton-Pickard Manufacturing Co. It belongs to the era of wood-and-brass folding plate cameras aimed at amateur and advanced users before the widespread adoption of roll film.

At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Thornton-Pickard Automan have ranged from £40 to £150, with a median around £125 based on three recorded sales between 2022 and 2025. Condition is the main driver of value in today's market: complete examples with intact bellows and a functioning shutter sell for more, while incomplete or damaged bodies are what a Thornton-Pickard Automan is worth at the lower end of that range.

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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
Sep 2025 £40 Special Auction Services
Jan 2025 £125 Flints Auctions
Jun 2022 £150 Flints Auctions
Oct 2017 £216 Flints Auctions
Dec 2002 £188 Christie's
Dec 2002 £176 Christie's

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