Police Request

[Steve Machol]

I received a request from a Police Agency that is requesting the following info:

I'm a Police Inspector with the town of Hillsborough, CA and I'm trying to find information about a pair of glasses that were recovered at the scene of a homicide. I'm hoping your members can provide me with information about the following eyeglasses;

Berdel Sferoflex pat Phoenix
140 Made in Italy Darksteel

Are these glasses distributed in the United States?
Where are they most frequently sold?
Is this model still made?

Please post any answers in this thread.

[Bobbi]

sferoflex is a line from luxottica group

[DragonLensmanWV]

That's a Sferoflex 2012. I think it's disco'd.

[Uncle Fester]

Steve -This really caught my eye as I often think all kidding aside a CSI episode could be written based on forensic evidence from crime scene eyewear.

The officer involved may want to supply a picture of where the glasses were found and in what condition to perhaps you and Harry Jilson or another moderator to see what you think. Especially if they're bent. Also the size and Rx w/ PD might be helpfull.

I'm sure those with law enforcement backgrounds may roll their eyes over these thoughts but I congratulate the officer involved for leaving no stone unturned.

[Uncle Fester]

That's a Sferoflex 2012. I think it's disco'd.

My frames data book shows it was discontinued from issue 129 which would put it somewhere around 2000/2001.

When did Lenscrafters buy Lux/Berdel? Are there any in the Hillsborough area?

[specs4you]

Why is the purchase of an old frame relevant?
I guess that is why I am not a police officer?
Patients even go so far as to take over frames from friends and relatives and put their RX's in them....so the source esp. now in internet times..where they can buy them even on Ebay as old stock seems
too far out........

I guess I can only think in the black and white and not grey area, so I have been told.

[Uncle Fester]

Why is the purchase of an old frame relevant?
I guess that is why I am not a police officer?
Patients even go so far as to take over frames from friends and relatives and put their RX's in them....so the source esp. now in internet times..where they can buy them even on Ebay as old stock seems
too far out........

I guess I can only think in the black and white and not gray area, so I have been told.

It's a place to start!
Could you from looking at the bridge guess at the shape of the nose?
If the temple is straight or bent at the very tip would you suspect a large hat size?
A narrow or wide pupillary distance?
Would a magnified image of the lens edge indicate a wet or dry edger? So if a local shop had a dry edger maybe they could shed some light.
If the left temple flairs out dramatically from the right would you suppose a blow from the right or left side caused it? (Left)
Perhaps there's an old invoice at the shop these were sold at and records indicate it's the same rx. While it wouldn't be easy we have invoices from before then that if needed could be accessed.
Could DNA be found in the silicone nose pad?
This person of interest perhaps now needs new glasses. An unusual rx might catch someone's eye.

These are just some thoughts off the top of my head to help law enforcement from an opticians point of view and experience think outside the box.

My 2 cents.

[Jubilee]

Lenscrafters has been carrying the Sferoflex line for as long as I can remember.. which means at least from 1994 on.

Pat is indeed a style that has been around many years. They changed many of the "names" to numbers but kept the original design. Such as Pat was sold as Dragonlensman said SF 2012, similar to what the did with regular lux with the Hector, Craig, etc becoming number series instead. I am not sure how long they still carried the "name" on the frames that were sold as number series.

I will call me rep and confirm with her when the transition took place. She carried that line till recently for over 11 years.. and still covers the line for those who can't see the new rep for it as often.

I can see where if the glasses didn't belong to the victim, it could certainly give some information depending on the factors for someone else who could have been involved.

The issue is that Pat was distributed by LC and many other optical companys. Certainly not a rare frame by any means :(

Cassandra

[CuriousCat]

Perhaps neutralizing the rx will be more helpful.

[OPTIDONN]

Yeah. If the person is wearing a certain progressive this could help narrow down the place of purchase.

[optirep]

The Patrick is now called SFX 696u and is still made and sold in the US. I never remember a PAT frame and if so it was gone before 2002. Berdel name was not used at that time as well.


IT's an Old Old Frame!

[LilKim]

I'd send the officer an email back asking him to bring them by so you can get the Rx printed off, as well as take a look at the edging job as suggested in the above posts. Tell him you'd wear gloves and all, so as not to contaminate any evidence.

Although if they're the men's Sferoflex frames, and are several years old, there's got to be huge wads of face cheese gunked up on the nosepads and ear crud on the temples. It'd be hard to destroy that, even with a solvent :D

[rdcoach5]

I believe pat stands for patent and the name was Phoenix. We sold a number of these many years ago, maybe 20.

[CME4SPECS]

The Patrick is now called SFX 696u and is still made and sold in the US. I never remember a PAT frame and if so it was gone before 2002. Berdel name was not used at that time as well.


IT's an Old Old Frame!

I'm pretty sure that the "pat" on the Sferoflexs, referred to the patented hinge.

[hcjilson]

Not to reply in this thread?? Send him an email.

[optirep]

I'm pretty sure that the "pat" on the Sferoflexs, referred to the patented hinge.

Right I missed the Phoenix part! I do remember that frame and it has been gone for at least 6 years.

[Fezz]

Please post any answers in this thread.

Pssssssst, Harry........

;)

[Uncle Fester]

Pssssssst, Harry........

;)

Now Fezz--- Take a deep breath------- have a brew---- and help us.;)

[Jubilee]

I am thinking that man.. how often were they worn? Either that, or this man saw his optician often. To have that old of a frame in good enough condition to read all that information from the frame itself.. when most time it wears off in a matter of a couple of years...

[Fezz]

Now Fezz--- Take a deep breath------- have a brew---- and help us.;)

Ah...ok!

Hold on.

Fezz takes three giant gulps, splashes his gullet fully:

Book E'm Danno!

How is that Fester?

:D:cheers:;):cheers::D

[Uncle Fester]

I am thinking that man.. how often were they worn? Either that, or this man saw his optician often. To have that old of a frame in good enough condition to read all that information from the frame itself.. when most time it wears off in a matter of a couple of years...

Which is why I say let some old timers have a confidential look at the crime scene photo's.

[Jubilee]

Oh I agree with you Uncle Fester.. I agree.

[hcjilson]

Pssssssst, Harry........

;)

I didn't have my plus 2's on! Wow! is that embarassing! Thanks Fezz!
PS.

In my defense (but not to excuse).......Because I read so much here, I've gotten into the habit of speed reading. Of necessity, speed reading requires you to skip stuff- generally adjectives etc. as well as all but the first sentence of a paragraph sometimes. This gets one in some trouble occasionally. This is one of those occasions. I'll try to do better.

[rdcoach5]

Who remembers when frames were regularly manufactured in Italy instead of China? 10 years? i had a customer who wanted a frame NOT made in China and the only frames I have were Lafont, Gucci and Kenneth Cole and some Calvin Klein

[drk]

If we could have the lens powers and add, if it exists, we'd be able to place an approximate age on the wearer.

I find Jubilee's comment about an old frame's condition intriguing. How good does this old frame look?