Ideal frame wish list

[Dr. Bill Stacy]

I'm looking for a single style frame that has more or less universal fitting possibilities.

My wish list has distilled down to this:

1. P-3 or close to P-3 shape

2. Eye sizes from 40 to 50 in 2 mm increments

3. DBL from 16 to 22 in 2 mm increments

4. Temples skull type 130 to 160 in 10 mm increments

5. Construction 2 types, Zyl and Metal Nylor

6. Colors: Tortoise, Black and Crystal in zyl, yellow gold in nylor

7. Bridge location and type: High, medium and low (with both keyhole and saddle types in the zyl version)

8. Quality/Pricing level: Prefer medium to high, although I'll look at lower priced products .

Anybody know of makers/sellers of this laundry list?
If not, any manufacturers who have the capability and willingness to tool up for it?

Of course partial fulfillment would be acceptable for now. I'll be at Vision Expo next month looking for such a supplier.

Thanks for any input at all.

[Chris Ryser]

Of course partial fulfillment would be acceptable for now. I'll be at

Vision Expo next month looking for such a supplier.

Until 1981 I had my Frame company for 20 years and what you are asking for, used to be a standard demand for most of the popular models.

Lenses have been adapted to the latest technologies but frame manufacturers are just going for style and colors and are totally forgeting a good fitting range.

There is just too much competition, and selling is tough these days. So they keep it simple, and make the smallest possible size range.

I am sure that getting what you are asking for would impact a seller with some large sales orders and superb repeat sales. I remember the old days being on the road and having seen 3 Optometrists in Toronto one morning, and counted the frames sold over lunch, which resulted in close to 2000 frames in a 4 hour period.

I hope you will find a supplier that is smart enough and goes along with your idea.

[CME4SPECS]

Those were the good ole days Bill.

[Dr. Bill Stacy]

Thanks for that encouragement. I haven't done the math, but I'm looking at at least 25 or 30 individual combos, maybe as many as 50? At least one shape is all i'm asking for at this point. I sure hope I can find a USA company to do this reasonably. Hate to have to go to China, Mexico, Italy or France (in decreasing order of disgust).

[Chris Ryser]

At least one shape is all i'm asking for at this point. I sure hope I can find a USA company to do this reasonably. Hate to have to go to China, Mexico, Italy or France (in decreasing order of disgust).

I do know one company that is very open minded and not in the far East.
check it out at: http://www.rodenstock.com/com/en/eyewear.html

[Dr. Bill Stacy]

I do know one company that is very open minded and not in the far East.
check it out at: http://www.rodenstock.com/com/en/eyewear.html

Now there's a blast from the past. Glad to see they are back. I bought out my rep's sample bag and still have some of those oldie/goodies left! Thanks I'll get back with them.

And their web site is outrageously wonderful. Sadly, no wait, amazingly, they have no presence in the US yet? Outstanding.

[rbaker]

In the dark recesses of my aging mind I recall just about all zyle frames came in a multitude of eye and bridge sizes and temple lengths. I recall most AO zyle frames came in an 8 piece fitting kit. When you received a frame it came in two envelopes, front and temples and you had to put the darn thing together before you glazed it. Keyhole bridges and saddle bridges were the rule until some brilliant marketing dweeb came up with the "unifit" bridge which as it turned out really doesn't necessarily fit. However, it allowed frames to be differentiated just by eye sizes only. It was then logical from a marketing and stocking point of view to supply frames with a large eye size with long temples and small frames with short temples.

We loved it as we didn't have to dick around with all these choices, put it on the board and sell it.

And, now, you want to revert back to the "good old days" of actually having to exercise judgement when fitting a frame to a face and go through all that hassle in ordering and assembling a "custom" frame. Have you no consideration of the poor manufacturer having to retool for multiple sizes and carrying all that extra stock.

So let me get this straight, You want to replace the thousand ill fitting frames on you board with a hundred or so well fitting units?

[Tallboy]

Man it would be nice to be able to offer that amount of customization for people, I know many that would pay for it.

Hell I know some guys who would pay a kings ransom for a solid metal double bar or single bar with real (non cheapo conversion) cable temples.

I never got to see optics when shops were like this, but it sounds dandy.

[rbaker]

Hell I know some guys who would pay a kings ransom for a solid metal double bar or single bar with real (non cheapo conversion) cable temples.

Get some Universal stuff here:

http://scpralll.tripod.com/Univis/

And you wont have to pay a kings ransom although you can charge the customer a kings ransom or two.

[Tallboy]

Get some Universal stuff here:

http://scpralll.tripod.com/Univis/
And you wont have to pay a kings ransom although you can charge the customer a kings ransom or two.

Wow thank you!!!

[Barry Santini]

Multiple bridge and temple sizes are more or less obsolete. IFD, or Intelligent Frame Design, has yet to make an appearance, but when it does, everyone will wonder why it took so long.

The answer? You!

B

[rbaker]

It's all about fashion, not fit Fashion is ever-changing. Fit, comfort and utility take a back seat to whatever some slick marketing program dictates particularly in woman's frames. Ahhh . . . vanity . . . thy name is woman!

[Barry Santini]

Fashion does not have to take a backseat to fit

[Paul Smith LDO]

Art Craft and Shuron offer multiple sizes, the classic P-3 fashion shapes your looking for, and they don't take a backseat to anyone. Made in the USA.

[Johns]

When I was a Marcolin rep, we the 946 came in sizes from 44 to 62, a wide range of temple lengths, and even cables. Only down side to your request was that it was not a P3, but a pilot.

And yes, like Chris, that one frame alone would yield 40-50 frames per order, because it was difficult to pick just one.

[Chris Ryser]

Just by thinking of fashion in general, when someone thinks hard about it, they make a comeback some many years later and are suddenly successfull so do not think it can not happen.

And their web site is outrageously wonderful. Sadly, no wait,

amazingly, they have no presence in the US yet? Outstanding.

I do know they are working at it. They are also having some anonymous
presence right here on OptiBoard.

[Dr. Bill Stacy]

So let me get this straight, You want to replace the thousand ill fitting frames on you board with a hundred or so well fitting units?

Naw, my frame buyer (wife) would kill me. I just want my little niche that works when all else fails. Hey, I may predate you. My fond memory is during Viet Nam as an Air Force O.D. having a desk drawer full of one frame style, many size combos. Very efficient, and I could max out at 32 exams and fittings per day with one airman helping me.

But as for style, I'm happy to see a little resurgence of the P3.


Form follows function.

[Robert_S]

You should ask Anglo American optical..

[Craig]

I would suggest Tom Davies; they are set up to do what you are asking and will make the process simple.
Call the office and ask for Nathan to call you back1 630 499 7955.

They are a great vendor for custom products and set up to do what you want.

[Tallboy]

Get some Universal stuff here:

http://scpralll.tripod.com/Univis/

And you wont have to pay a kings ransom although you can charge the customer a kings ransom or two.

Unfortunately that number is no longer correct. Too bad.

[merrymaker]

http://www.kalaeyewear.com/index.shtml

'Made In California'

Good stuff here. I believe its Daniel who owns/operates the company.

[Uilleann]

Alain Mikli offers (or offered) something similar I think? But they cost a kidney and a half...

[JERRY HUANG]

I can fulfill 90% of your wish lists except temples. No minimum quantity! Any shape, any size as you wish...lol!