This is a streamlined plastic camera of unusual shape and design. It was priced at 50/- in 1938.

The shutter operates close to the focal plane. It consists of two metal plates which move in a small arc across the focal plane. On releasing the shutter the first plate starts to travel, the second plate has a weight attached to it which controls the aperture and the speed. The camera can be held horizontally or in two vertical positions. This causes the weight to be in a neutral position (horizontal), to be at the top of the camera and so speed its drop or the bottom of the camera and so work against the spring power as it is lifted. The weight is also a cam and causes the second plate to form a larger (weight at bottom) or smaller (weight at top) opening with the first plate. The two actions combine to give medium, fast and slow speeds.

The camera was produced for many years, advertisements claim that over 100,000 were produced. Around 1948 the lens was coated. The lens engraving differs in position between early and late models.

The camera was replaced by the less interesting Purma Plus.

Accessories for the Purma Special included: lens hood; filters (1 yellow, 2 orange, 4 blue, 5 green); six close-up lenses 18", 24", 32", 3 ½' - 5', 5' - 7 ½', 7 ½' - 10'; and an enlarger producing 3 ¼" x 4 ¼" prints, this was added in 1949.

Original Purma patents were issued to A. C. Mayo of Richmond who was the designer of the camera. In the early 1940s Purma related patents were issued to Joseph Terrett and William Barton Wood of Sutton. GB430648 and GB445907 primarily cover the Purma Speed. GB473123 describes the Purma Special and refers to the older patents. The camera was distributed by R. F. Hunter.