Thornton-pickardmfg. Co. Ruby Speed Camera
The Thornton-Pickard Ruby Speed Camera is a British-made plate camera fitted with a focal-plane shutter, produced by the Manchester-based Thornton-Pickard Manufacturing Company in the early twentieth century. It was positioned as a higher-specification press and reportage instrument capable of fast shutter speeds beyond what most conventional shutters of the era offered.
Auction-hammer results for the Ruby Speed Camera are scarce, with only two recorded UK saleroom results: £4,500 in 2017 and £6,000 in 2014, giving a midpoint around £5,300. With so few data points, what a Ruby Speed Camera is worth today depends heavily on completeness, originality of the focal-plane shutter, and the lens fitted, and individual examples can sell for substantially more or less than this range at auction.
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: June 2019
| Date | Price | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2019 | EUR 2,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 34 (Lot AI_34_37219) Title: Thornton Pickard F2 Ruby Speed Camera
Description:
extremely rare Ermanox copy for 4.5x6cm exposures, with fast f.2 Cooke Anastigmat 3" (75mm) Series O no.123705 in helical focusing mount, focal plane shutter, only few of these cameras are known to exist Estimate: EUR 4,000 - EUR 4,500 |
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| Jun 2017 | EUR 4,500 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 31 (Lot AI_31_35353) Title: Thornton Pickard F2 Ruby Speed Camera
Description:
extremely rare Ermanox copy for 4.5x6cm exposures, with fast f.2 Cooke Anastigmat 3" (75mm) Series O no.123695 in helical focusing mount, focal plane shutter, only few of these cameras are known to exist Estimate: EUR 4,000 - EUR 4,500 |
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| Nov 2014 | EUR 6,000 | Leitz Auction | |
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Auction: Leitz Auction 26 (Lot AI_26_30656) Title: Thornton Pickard F2 Ruby Speed Camera
Description:
extremely rare Ermanox copy with fast Cooke Anastigmat 2/3" (75mm) Series O no.123702 in helical focusing mount, working focal plane shutter, including 4 original plate film holders and case Estimate: EUR 12,000 - EUR 15,000 |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a Thornton-Pickard Ruby Speed Camera worth today?
Based on the two UK auction-hammer results on file, the Ruby Speed Camera has sold in the £4,500–£6,000 range, though the very small sample means individual prices vary widely with condition and fitments.
How much does a Ruby Speed Camera sell for at auction?
Recorded UK hammer prices are £4,500 (2017) and £6,000 (2014); a clean, complete example with an original lens tends to sit toward the upper end of that range.
What affects the value of a Ruby Speed Camera?
Condition of the focal-plane shutter blind, originality and quality of the fitted lens, presence of plate holders, and overall cosmetic state are the main factors driving the price a Ruby Speed Camera achieves.