Eyeglasses in Colonial America

**opticianbart** · 08-31-2010, 02:46 PM

So I've decided to combine my love of Colonial history with my love for glasses. Anyone know anything about such things? (besides the obvious Ben Franklin bifocal stuff) I'm particularly interested in how the lenses and frames were constructed at that time.

**opticianbart** · 08-31-2010, 02:52 PM

(although from what I've been able to find, they were pretty much just imported from europe until early 18something.)

**Fezz** · 08-31-2010, 02:54 PM

Here is a start:

http://www.antiquespectacles.com/

Also, research McAllister.

Here is a start with that as well.

http://www.eyecarebiz.com/article.aspx?article=50568

I will dig up more as I find the time!

**Fezz** · 08-31-2010, 03:00 PM

Here is more for you to digest.

I am sorry that it is taking me so long!

http://www.eye.uthsc.edu/history/WhatManDevised.pdf

**Fezz** · 08-31-2010, 03:17 PM

http://www.opticalheritagemuseum.org/index.htm

**Fezz** · 08-31-2010, 03:21 PM

http://www.jstor.org/pss/987012

**opticianbart** · 08-31-2010, 03:25 PM

You Sir, are awesome.

**Fezz** · 08-31-2010, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by opticianbart

You Sir, are awesome.

Thank you for posting what every other person on Optiboard is thinking!

:cheers::cheers::cheers:

**DragonLensmanWV** · 08-31-2010, 06:07 PM

I was looking ad Dr. Karickhoff's display today, and he has a set of McAllisters, several pince-nez, some other Civil War era frames, a WW1 gas mask glasses w/indented temples, and a nifty double-concave myodisk pair.

**Fezz** · 09-01-2010, 03:10 PM

Did you find anything else?

Care to share?

**opticianbart** · 09-02-2010, 07:36 AM

Ha, you found more sites than I did. I bow to your superior googling skills (assuming you used google as opposed to some other means of site finding.)