Thornton-pickardmfg. Co. Mark III Hythe Camera (MK III H) (Aerial)
The Thornton-Pickard Mark III Hythe Camera (MK III H) is a British aerial gun camera built in the shape of a Lewis machine gun, used during the First World War to train aircrew in aerial gunnery without live ammunition. Pulling the trigger exposed a frame of film, allowing instructors to assess a trainee's aim against enemy aircraft.
At UK auction, hammer prices for the Mark III Hythe have ranged widely — from £120 at saleroom level in 2000 up to about £2,000 in 2021, with a more recent 2022 result around £560. As of today in 2026 the small sample size means what a Mark III Hythe is worth depends heavily on completeness, originality of the wooden stock and metalwork, and provenance, with militaria-grade examples sitting at the upper end of the range.
Sales History
Prices shown are realised prices — auction results and completed eBay sales, never asking prices. Most saleroom figures are hammer prices, before commission; some houses publish a premium-inclusive figure, and we do not adjust for condition. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher. How this figure is calculated.
Prices updated: April 2026
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| Apr 2026 | £2,625 | £2,100 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 423) Title: A Thornton Pickard Hythe Type III H Aerial Camera
Description:
1915-18, black, serial no. 3843, body, VG, shutter working, lens, VG, complete with sights and maker's case |
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| Apr 2025 | £5,250 | £4,200 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 273) Title: A Thornton Pickard Hythe Type III H Aerial Camera
Description:
1915-18, black, serial no. 3451, body, VG, shutter working, complete with sights, dummy magazine and original bi-pod Note: Designed and manufactured |
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| Nov 2022 | £1,875 | £1,500 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 284) Title: A Thornton Pickard Hythe Type III Aerial Camera
Description:
1915-18, black, serial no. 478, body, G, shutter working, complete with sights, dummy magazine and maker's box Note: Designed and manufactured for |
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| Apr 2022 | £562 | £450 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica (Lot 151) Title: A Thornton Pickard Hythe Type 3H Aerial Camera
Description:
1915-18, black, complete with lens, body, P-F, shutter firing, lens, G-VG, some internal haze and light fungus Note: Designed and manufactured for |
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| Nov 2021 | £1,984 | £1,600 | 🇬🇧 Flints Auctions | |
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Auction: Fine Photographica & Instruments of Science (Lot 287) Title: A Thornton Pickard Hythe Type III.H Aerial Camera
Description:
1915-18, black, serial no. 4819, body, G, shutter working Note: Designed and manufactured for the Royal Flying Corps and The Allied Aviation Series |
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| Mar 2014 | EUR 2,200 | £1,830 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 25 (Lot AI_25_29733) Title: Thornton-Pickard Mark III Hythe Machine Gun Camera
Description:
Altringham, England, 4.5x6cm on 120 roll-film. 8/300mm lens. In the form of a machine gun used to train Air Force gunners. A bull's-eye target is exposed with the image so that "hits" can be determined on the developed photographs. (lacking dummy machine gun magazine which is usually missing). Ex Spira Collection. Estimate: EUR 1,200 - EUR 1,500 |
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| Nov 2006 | EUR 1,200 | £809 | 🇦🇹 Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 10 (Lot AI_10_15310) Title: Thornton-Pickard Mark III Hythe Machine Gun Camera
Description:
Altringham, England, 4.5x6cm on 120 roll-film. 8/300mm lens. In the form of a machine gun used to train Air Force gunners. A bull's-eye target is exposed with the image so that "hits" can be determined on the developed photographs. (lacking dummy machine gun magazine which is usually missing). Ex Spira Collection. Estimate: EUR 1,200 - EUR 1,600 |
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| Jul 2000 | £117 | £100 | 🇬🇧 Christie's | |
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Auction: CAMERAS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT (Lot 342) Title: Hythe Mk. III camera gun
Description:
Hythe Mk. III camera gun Estimate: £25 - £100 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Thornton-Pickard Mark III Hythe camera worth today?
Recorded UK auction hammer prices range from roughly £120 to £2,000, so value depends strongly on condition and completeness rather than a single fixed price.
How much does a Mark III Hythe sell for at auction?
Recent UK saleroom results sit between about £560 and £2,000, with the higher figure achieved for a clean, complete example in 2021.
Why does the Mark III Hythe look like a machine gun?
It was designed to mimic the Lewis gun so that First World War aircrew could practise aerial gunnery using film exposures instead of live rounds.