Starting to wear 50's era glasses in the dispensary. Pic of my first B&Ls.

[William Walker]

I have been looking at some 50's era eyewear online for about a month or so, and while I was away on an optical missions trip in Jamaica, I ran across a few frames from the period that were going to be tossed (you couldn't give them away in Jamaica - they were very undesirable there), so I was able to bring them home! I'll probably do one set of lenses every few weeks, but I wanted to start out with this B&L.

If anyone can narrow down the years this could have been made, I would love to know. On the inside of the bridge, it lists "B&L 10K GF, 20_48" (I guess back then they listed the dbl before the A measurement). It says "Bausch & Lomb 6 1/2" on each temple. I'm assuming this is 50s, but I guess it could be 60s as well. Any ideas? The only thing I still need to do to it is replace the nosepads. Thankfully, it has the rayban style pads, so I can get them fairly easily.

As an optician, I love finding glasses that are just a little different, and I've always loved vintage...anything. Here's the glasses as I found them, and me with them with my Rx in them.





In a few weeks, I'll post up my next set. Stay tuned...

[Mick]

This appears to be a "Titan" model, also made as "Titan 14". I worked at B&L in the 60's and this was a very popular model. The difference on the titan should be 10, the difference on the titan 14, should be 14 as the name implies. The B&L Grayton rocking pads should be easy to replace.

[kat]

Cool look!

[William Walker]

This appears to be a "Titan" model, also made as "Titan 14". I worked at B&L in the 60's and this was a very popular model. The difference on the titan should be 10, the difference on the titan 14, should be 14 as the name implies. The B&L Grayton rocking pads should be easy to replace.

By difference do you mean between the A and B? If so, it is 10mm (48A, 38B).

You mentioned working there in the 60s - does that mean these are 60s vintage, or could they also have been 50s? I don't want to talk about them ignorantly.

Now I'm off to see if I can find a picture of the Titan 14! I might need to add that to my new collection, too!

Thanks so much!

[Mick]

By difference do you mean between the A and B? If so, it is 10mm (48A, 38B).

You mentioned working there in the 60s - does that mean these are 60s vintage, or could they also have been 50s? I don't want to talk about them ignorantly.

Now I'm off to see if I can find a picture of the Titan 14! I might need to add that to my new collection, too!

Thanks so much!

Yes, in the previous era, when cutting lenses we had to compute the seg height by measuring the B and positioning it in reference to 1/2 of the B. So the 48 eye Titan whould have a B of 38. A 17 high seg would be positioned 2mm below the vertical center. I was at B&L from 1964 till 1977, and if I recall accurately, this would be a model introduced in the mid to later 60's.

[Tallboy]

Hardcore glasses man, hardcore.

[walleye]

If you PM me your fax number I will send you a picture of this Titan frame from the 1968 FRAMES DATA catalog with all the specifications. Thay are really a blast from the past. I think I have one as new old stock in my collection.