Hope plate folders

The Hope (ホープ) is a Japanese 6.5×9 plate folder, made by Ōhashi Kōki Seisakusho around 1935. It has double extension bellows, a brilliant finder on the lens standard and a frame finder made of two parts: an eyepiece attached to the main body and a wireframe attached to the lens standard. It looks like only some lateral movement is possible.

Hope in a Ōhashi leaflet. (Image rights)

Kokusan kamera no rekishi mentions f/4.5 and f/6.3 versions. An undated leaflet by Ōhashi (reproduced in this page) offers a single version called Hope Improved B (ホープ改良B型) with an Genira Special f/6.8 lens and a Genira shutter giving 25, 50, 100, T, B speeds. The price indicated is ¥15, including three metal holders, one film pack holder and a distant release connector. However, the advertising picture shows a different version, with a Rulex shutter by Neumann & Heilemann and a lens probably wider than f/6.8.

No example of the camera has yet been observed.

Bibliography

• Asahi Camera (アサヒカメラ) editorial staff. Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi (昭和10–40年広告にみる国産カメラの歴史, Japanese camera history as seen in advertisements, 1935–1965). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1994. ISBN 4-02-330312-7. Item 240. (Unlike most other entries in this book, no advertisement is reproduced and no picture is given.)
• Leaflet published by Ōhashi Takeji Shōten, presenting the Hope, Seves, Baby Light, Roll Light Ref, Bosch enlarging lens, Cross filters and Riken hood. Date not indicated.
• Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), 0-935398-16-3 (hard). P. 48 (brief mention only).

The Hope is not listed in Sugiyama.