Thornton-pickardmfg. Co. Junior Special Ruby Reflex
The Thornton-Pickard Junior Special Ruby Reflex is a British-made single-lens reflex plate camera from the early twentieth century, produced by the Altrincham-based firm best known for its focal-plane shutter designs. It sits in the Ruby Reflex family as a more compact, lower-priced alternative to the full-size Ruby Reflex, aimed at amateur plate photographers.
At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Junior Special Ruby Reflex have ranged from about £25 to £150, with a median around £44 — wholesale saleroom levels that exclude buyer's and seller's commission. As of 2026, most examples sell for well under £100, and the camera is worth a premium only when the body, bellows and shutter are all presentable; the £119 and £149 results in 2021–2022 reflect cleaner, more complete examples rather than a broad lift in value.
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.
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| Mar 2026 | £62 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 306) Title: A Thornton Pickard Ruby Reflex Junior Special Camera
Description:
blac, body G, all parts move freely, shutter needs attention, with a Cooke Anastigmat f/4.5 5 inch lens, optics F-G. |
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| Jan 2025 | £25 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 197) Title: A Thornton Pickard Junior Special Ruby Reflex Camera
Description:
black, body P, reflex mechanism jammed and shutter curtain deteriorated, for parts or restoration, with a Cooke f/4.5 5 inch lens, barrel F-G, optics |
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| Jan 2025 | £75 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 234) Title: A Thornton-Pickard Junior Special Ruby Reflex
Description:
black, body G, shutter works but speeds unverified, with a Dallmeyer Dalmac f/3.5 5 inch lens, optics F with internal fungus, focussing screen |
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| Jan 2025 | £25 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Instruments (Lot 580) Title: A Thornton Pickard Junior Special Ruby Reflex Camera
Description:
black, body P, reflex mechanism jammed and shutter curtain jammed, for parts or restoration, with a Cooke f/4.5 6 inch lens, barrel G, optics G with |
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| Jul 2024 | £38 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 188) Title: A Thornton Pickard Junior Special Ruby Reflex Camera
Description:
circa 1930, quarter plate, with a Carl Zeiss Jena Triotar f/4.5 15cm (150mm) lens, serial no.258018, revolving back and a Rollex 6x9cm roll film back, |
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| Jun 2024 | £45 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 43) Title: A Thorton Pickard Junior Special Reflex Camera
Description:
A Thorton Pickard Junior Special Reflex Camera, shutter cocks & fires, curtain sticking, body G, scratches & wear, viewing hood P, bellows F-G, no |
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| Jun 2024 | £60 | Special Auction Services | |
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Auction: Photographica & Cameras Auction (Lot 164) Title: A Thorton Pickard Junior Special Reflex Camera
Description:
A Thorton Pickard Junior Special Reflex Camera, shutter working, bottom part of curtain dragging in runner, body G, viewing hood/bellows G, with |
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| Feb 2024 | £44 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras & Scientific Auction (Lot 208) Title: A Thornton Pickard Junior Special Ruby Quarter Plate SLR Camera
Description:
circa 1930, with a Taylor-Hobson T-P Cooke Anastigmat f/4.5 6in.lens, rising front and rotating back, mirror, top and rear focusing screens present, |
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| Mar 2023 | £44 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 338) Title: A Thornton Pickard Junior Special Ruby Reflex SLR Camera
Description:
black, body G, shutter working but speeds stick, blinds in good condition, ground glass & mirror G-VG, without lens, (Qty: 1) |
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| Mar 2023 | £50 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 344) Title: A Thornton Pickard Junior Special Reflex SLR Camera
Description:
black, body F, some corrosion, shutter not working, mirror intact, ground glass intact (top & rear), together with a Dallmeyer Anastigmat f/4.5 6" (Qty: 1) |
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| Mar 2023 | £31 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 339) Title: A Thornton Pickard Junior Special Ruby Reflex SLR Camera
Description:
black, body F, shutter working but only one speed tested, blinds require cleaning, ground glass & mirror G, with a Ross Xpres f/4.5 4¾ lens, optics P, (Qty: 1) |
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| Jun 2022 | £119 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 596) Title: A Thornton Pickard Junior Special Ruby Reflex
Description:
black, body VG, shutter working, ground glass intact, rotating back, both ground glass clean & clear, with Taylor-Hobson Cooke Anastigmat 6¼" Series (Qty: 1) |
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| Jun 2022 | £25 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 655) Title: A Thornton Pickard Junior Special Ruby Reflex Camera
Description:
black, body G, shutter working but always sticks, with Aldis Anastigmat f/4.5 6.75" lens, optics F, some haze & fungus present, (Qty: 1) |
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| Feb 2022 | £25 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 359) Title: A Thornton Pickard Junior Special Ruby Reflex Camera
Description:
black, shutter working, with Taylor-Hobson T-P Cooke Anastigmat 5" f/4.5 lens, optics F, some haze & fungus present, (Qty: 1) |
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| Dec 2021 | £62 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 683) Title: A Thornton Pickard Junior Special Ruby Reflex Camera
Description:
black, body G, shutter not working, with a Cooke Anastigmat 5" f/4.5 lens, optics G-VG, some light internal haze and fungus present, (Qty: 1) |
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| Dec 2021 | £422 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: The Collectors Sale (Lot 646) Title: A Thornton Pickard Junior Special Ruby Reflex Camera
Description:
Black, body F-G, some wear to body present, shutter may require attention, first curtain travels, second curtain sticks, with a Cooke Anastigmat (Qty: 1) |
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| Jan 2021 | £149 | Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Cameras, Scientific & Collectables (Lot 676) Title: A Thornton Pickard Special Ruby Reflex Camera
Description:
with Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar f/4.5 150mm lens, body, F-G, shutter working, speeds unchecked, lens, G, complete with Carl Zeiss Jena Tele-Tessar f/6.3 |
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