WWII Aviator Sunglasses

[Zemke Fan]

This thread was one of the first started by me when I joined the Fedora Lounge. This first post contained an eBay auction photograph, the auction prose, and an email exchange between me and the eBay seller about a pair of AAF sunglasses that sold for $154 on eBay. At the seller's request (Grifter) I have taken down the photo and description.

 

[The Wingnut]

The Wingnut made the following comments about the eBay price/value:

Not worth $154. $75, maybe. You can get brand new AO 'General' sunglasses that are correct to the original patterns - more so than any current offering from Ray-Ban - for around $55 if you do some decent shopping. If you're a collector with everything, yeah, the super rare stuff is a good addition, if you just want a nice example, get the stuff that's easier to get a hold of. I gave up on getting an A-4 flight suit after I found a nice AN-S-31 that fit well. (actually, I have an A-4, but it's tiny on me. I tossed it in a drawer in hopes that someday the right size WAC might latch onto me)

Nice to see someone else who gives the 56th and their Jugs some much-needed attention. Too many Mustang fans out there...I don't see the attraction of a combat aircraft that can be taken down with a single pinhole.

 

[Kay O'Hara]

Just thought I'd share this image..... these are the glasses our Canadian Aviators wore in 1944.... these in particular, worn by my Uncle Ken....

Kay oxxo

 

[Wild Root]

Those are really neat. I haven't seen much of those before. Hang on to them for sure!

Root.

 

[Kay O'Hara]

Indeed I will...... they sit proudly on my family shelf.... in great company with my Grampa's medals from WWII

Kay xoxo

 

[Zemke Fan]

Spectacular pair of glasses, Kay!

Thanks for sharing. Just purchased a great set of RAF ribbons today on eBay. I think they were quite a steal at $11.50. Wish I had the BIG bucks for an RAF uniform! Got to love those American flyboys who went north of the border to join up with the RCAF. They were brave lads!

 

[Zemke Fan]

Two more recent eBay sales

Proving once again that prices on eBay are ALL over the map!

 

[Mycroft]

With a Hamilton Field Watch, a nice leather jacket, khakis, and these glasses it would be simple to pull off the look of an aviator.

 

[Baggers]

Hey, Grifter, welcome to the Lounge! And, may I compliment you on the warm and engaging tone with which you introduced yourself to us.

I'm looking forward to more of your witty and incisive commentary!

Cheers!

 

[Grifter]

I never claimed to be an expert on the subject just a long time collector of WWII Aviator Sunglasses. Grifter

 

[BellyTank]

I too, have many pairs; American and British-

I like them a lot.

B
T

 

[Grifter]

I too, have many pairs; American and British-

I like them a lot.

B
T

What do you have in your collection ?

 

[Robert C]

Willsonite Sunglasses

Willsonite made sunglasses for the USN during WWII. Have seen photos of USAAF personnel wearing them too. They had green lenses and acetate/celluliod frames. I picked up a pair on Ebay a few months back. Every now and then you can run across a pair of them on Ebay.

I can post a photo of them if you're interested...

Robert C

 

[BellyTank]

I don't have my camera at present but I'll takes ome pic's of few sunglasses when I am able.

Some of the 'issued' sunglasses weren't so great- AO and B&L(RayBan)were definitely the better made examples- frames and optics. I have a pair of pressed, anodized, 'issue' sunglasses, which are not very good quality.

Remember- many servicemen/officers/pilots liked to procure their own sunglasses.

Speaking of the Wilsonite glasses- I have seen some late-war USN sunglasses, which have a plastic frame and look a little more modern than mid '40s.
A guy was selling them on eBay for a while a good few years ago.

B
T

 

[Grifter]

Willsonite made sunglasses for the USN during WWII. Have seen photos of USAAF personnel wearing them too. They had green lenses and acetate/celluliod frames. I picked up a pair on Ebay a few months back. Every now and then you can run across a pair of them on Ebay.

I can post a photo of them if you're interested...

Robert C

Yes Willson did have a contract with the Navy, have several pair and have sold several pair on E-bay under the name LUFTGANGSTERS. But did you know that The Chas. Fischer Spring Co. (Makers of AN-6530 Goggles) also had a government contract to make aviator sunglasses and AN6531 lenses?

 

[John in Covina]

Just thought I'd share this image..... these are the glasses our Canadian Aviators wore in 1944.... these in particular, worn by my Uncle Ken....

Kay oxxo

********
The leather blinders remind me of mountaineering glasses and the glacier glasses.

 

[BellyTank]

I have a virtually identical pair (probably the same)of those- RAF, 1930s.
The later RAF model(early '40s, also have a pair), were much more modern looking.

B
T

 

[Mycroft]

U.S. Wings has just gotten replica WWII sunglasses in. :http://www.uswings.com/sunglasses.asp#USWWWIIFS

 

["Doc" Devereux]

U.S. Wings has just gotten replica WWII sunglasses in. :http://www.uswings.com/sunglasses.asp#USWWWIIFS

I like the way they describe the logo on the lens as "subtle." lol

 

[BellyTank]

I have a virtually identical pair (probably the same)of those- RAF, 1930s.
The later RAF model(early '40s, also have a pair), were much more modern looking.

These ones-

B
T