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Vintage Eyeglasses

DStuttgen

New in Town
Messages
39
Location
Oconto, WI
Vintage eyeglasses with modern Rx

I just received a pair of pea shape framed eyeglasses from Etsy and am wondering if anyone here has had a modern prescription installed in vintage eyeglasses. Were the eye care professionals amiable to this kind of request? Where did you have it done? Private practice or department store optical type center.

TIA, Dan
 

Lily Powers

Practically Family
DStuttgen said:
I just received a pair of pea shape framed eyeglasses from Etsy and am wondering if anyone here has had a modern prescription installed in vintage eyeglasses. Were the eye care professionals amiable to this kind of request? Where did you have it done? Private practice or department store optical type center.

TIA, Dan

I think it all depends on your prescription - are the lenses thick, bifocal, etc. - and the type of frames your vintage specs are. Given the choice, I'd personally opt for a private practice office (and many send out to a lab for the actual work) to handle the frames. Keep in mind though, if you don't purchase frames from your optician (or from that store in the mall), they'll likely require you to sign something that states you won't hold them liable if your frames get broken.

Hope they work out for you! :)
 

Marla

A-List Customer
Messages
421
Location
USA
DStuttgen said:
I just received a pair of pea shape framed eyeglasses from Etsy and am wondering if anyone here has had a modern prescription installed in vintage eyeglasses. Were the eye care professionals amiable to this kind of request? Where did you have it done? Private practice or department store optical type center.

TIA, Dan

I just went through this, and I recommend going to a private practice. At a department store I was told that it would be impossible to replace the lenses in my vintage glasses. However, at a private practice the glasses were accepted without fuss and they were ready within two days. The craftsmanship was excellent too. Now that I think of it, I wouldn't trust a department store optical center with my vintage glasses!
 

DStuttgen

New in Town
Messages
39
Location
Oconto, WI
Thank you Marla and Lily Powers for your input. Knowledge is power they say but really, who are they?:D
Dan

My new specs
snapshot201006211.jpg
 
Messages
11,579
Location
Covina, Califonia 91722
I asked at the Optometrist office at Walmart here in Covina and they said that they can usually make lenses for most glasses, it involves making a pattern first to get a correct fit for the frame. THat was an additional charge.

Then for me I have to get the "thin" lenses as the correction for my astigmatism makes the lenses fairly thick in the ordinary type lens material it would not fit in the frames I have, that was an additional charge.
 

TheModernLife

New in Town
Messages
44
Location
Philadelphia, PA
Help!

I've been looking to replace my bulky 1960s looking Ray-Ban frames with something a little more 1940s looking.

i really like these moscot lemtosh frames in blonde, but i'm wondering if they're still too 1950s?

Picture1-1.png


i also tried on the moscot miltzen frames, which i think look the part a bit more, but i do like the general shape of the lemtoshs (above)

Picture2.png


i just don't want to regret my purchase, especially since they're not the cheapest frames. it's hard to decide online without having them all to try on.
 

DanielJones

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,042
Location
On the move again...
A Different Kind of Eyeglasses

They're not vintage but their looks is darn close. Here are some new glasses that have a retro Harold Lloyd look, or the look of Cary Grant in Bringing up Baby. A different kind of Eyeglasses.

For more than 100 years, researchers have tried to come up with adjustable eyeglasses; a Baltimore inventor filed a patent on the idea in 1866. But a workable product that's easy to adjust, thin, lightweight and accurate proved elusive.

Stephen Kurtin, a California inventor who previously devised one of the first word-processing programs, turned to the problem in the early 1990s. His solution, TruFocal eyeglasses, mimic the way that the lens of the human eye stretches and contracts to adjust focus.

http://finance.yahoo.com/family-hom...rent-kind-of-eyeglasses?mod=family-love_money

50.jpg


I though this was a pretty ingenious invention. Bur sorry round is the only shape, that is the only way they'll work. So those folks with a very limited scope of knowledge & imagination may automatically think Harry Potter. Those of a broader mind may think Harold Lloyd or Cary Grant. If I needed such glasses, I think I'd go for a pair in black or a faux tortoise. They are a tad on the clunky side, but considering what they do they're not all that bad. I'd imagine that in the near future they'll have it refined enough to make the frames & lenses even finer & lighter in weight. It's a very keen idea.

Cheers!

Dan
 

Lonny

One of the Regulars
Messages
105
Location
Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada
Hey, TheModernLife!
I own a couple pairs of Moscots, they are great frames, I gotta say you won't regret it as a purchase, then again I own the black and tortoise frames, so I don't know about Blonde or Crystal, both of which also look really great! :) I might have to get them.
 

DanielJones

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,042
Location
On the move again...
Here are a couple of shots of eyeglass frames that my Pop kept around, eventually turning them into sunglasses. They are his prescription from back in the day, I believe late 50's early 60's for both frames. One I will eventually add my prescription to for regular reading glasses again and the metal frames I will keep as sunglasses but with plain UV grey or green lenses in them. Neither one has a brand name on them. The first ones are black plastic & metal frames. I have a photo of my Pop wearing these as regular glasses instead of sun glasses in what looks like the early 60's to me.
100_6394.jpg


The next ones are all metal chrome finish. These appear older & I would hazard the guess of the late 50's for these.
100_6401.jpg


I'm glad that I managed to get a hold of these as they are a nice link to my Pop's past. I will be putting them to good use.

Cheers!

Dan
 

DanielJones

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,042
Location
On the move again...
Hey, does anyone here know where one could send their vintage glasses to get the plastic ear guard at the end of the temples replaced or repaired? The above chrome pair is starting to lose that plastic protector and it'll gouge in behind the ear. I'd like to make good use of these and keep them around a while longer.

Cheers!

Dan
 

cookie

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,927
Location
Sydney Australia
I'm glad that I managed to get a hold of these as they are a nice link to my Pop's past. I will be putting them to good use.

Cheers!

Dan

I like the fact their are a couple of things my Dad left me that I can use. Like all in his generation when they spent they went for quality...not like today...

Hey, does anyone here know where one could send their vintage glasses to get the plastic ear guard at the end of the temples replaced or repaired? The above chrome pair is starting to lose that plastic protector and it'll gouge in behind the ear. I'd like to make good use of these and keep them around a while longer.

Cheers!

Dan


Shuron can rehab their vintage stuff as they are such an old firm. Maybe approach them. My Shurons that have no ear protectors wear my ear away. I went to the hardware store and there is a very fine plastic tubing that accomodates the ear loop size and I cut it to size. Being clear and behind the ear makes them un-noticeable.


Those specs are mosy unusual with a fantastic 50s/60s vibe. I have not seen the style on eBay before.
 

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