Hope plate folders

The Hope (ホープ) are Japanese 6.5×9 plate folders, 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).
• Ōhashi Takeji Shōten (大橋武治商店). Leaflet for the Hope, Seves, Baby Light, Roll Light Ref, Bosch enlarging lens, Cross filters and Riken hood. Date not indicated.

The Hope is not listed in Sugiyama.