Vintage Eyeglasses

Dixon Cannon · Oct 7, 2012

Here is an example of cutting edge fashion c.1966; the hair is less 'Beatles' - more Herman's Hermit's methinks. But the eyeglasses are all LBJ. Hey, I know what it was to live in 'The Great Society'!! -dixon cannon

SoulMUSZE · Dec 13, 2012

Sorry for asking if this has been asked before, does anyone know what make Marcello Mastroianni's frame was from the movie 8½? Over the past 3 years since I saw this movie, I've asked around and no one seems to know exactly. What makes this tricky is that there are no rivet shields or identifying markings on the frame other than the remarkably pointy hinge tips and the very squarish lenses. He is also not known to have worn the frame other than in the movie. My guess it that they are European, most likely Italian since Mastroianni and Fellini were both Italian and I've seen a couple of Persols in a very similar design. Any help in the right direction would be greatly appreciated fellas. Cheers!

Dr H · Jan 14, 2013

Fellow Loungers
I am planning to sell these gold rimmed spectacles with their case, but this area is not my field.

There are two figures impressed on the underside of the bridge, but I'll have to locate a lens to identify them.

I'd be grateful for advice about age/value please.

ghettoguy · Feb 6, 2013

Not my field either, but... These are Windsor style manufactured until the 1920's. The bridge (nose piece) and temples can be stamped with several useful info such as manufacturer (BL AO), a fraction with a number and GF (1/20 12GF gold filled.)bridge measurement in mm.
Buyers will want lens width/height, bridge width and temple length. The frames can be made from several metals, gold filled I believe to be the more desirable. Sorry that I couldn't be of more help.

MisterGrey · Feb 6, 2013

I must respectfully disagree. I believe Windsor was used to refer to perfectly round metal glasses, often of the sort with zylo wrapped eyepieces-- think Harry Potter.

Glasses like the pair in the photo were colloquially known as "Riding Glasses," from the "Riding Temple" (the cable temple), called as such because they were popular with early horseback riders: they sat close to the face, the oval shape fit perfectly around the eye, and the cable temples ensured they wouldn't fall off during vigorous riding. The style was most popular from the latter 1800s until the 1920s, when the invention of the nosepad revolutionized eyeglass style. Though saddle bridge glasses were still manufactured post-nosepad, they were rarer, meaning your glasses are probably pre/early-1920s.

splintercellsz · Feb 6, 2013

Bought these because they seem old, and well... they are from Reno, NV. My hometown! I personally think it is neat to own something from my hometown area that is old, and what not... a part of town history!

cookie · Feb 6, 2013

splintercellsz said:
Bought these because they seem old, and well... they are from Reno, NV. My hometown! I personally think it is neat to own something from my hometown area that is old, and what not... a part of town history!

Fit the lenses and you will get that vintage US Senator look.

splintercellsz · Feb 10, 2013

I like them, but not for me. I believe they were made for a female, so wearing them would not look to good!

MisterGrey · Feb 11, 2013

Not at all. The style was generally unisex-- I've seen very few examples that are distinctly feminine, which I believe came along later and demonstrate more of the cateye shape associated with women's glasses of the late 1940s and 50s. The pair you have by no means "meant" for a woman at all, unless you mean size-wise. Otherwise, they would suit a man just fine.

Monte · Feb 11, 2013

I think the fedora started as a women's fashion in the '20s if i'm not mistaken. Do you wear specs? Haven't seen you doing so.

splintercellsz · Feb 11, 2013

MisterGrey said:
Not at all. The style was generally unisex-- I've seen very few examples that are distinctly feminine, which I believe came along later and demonstrate more of the cateye shape associated with women's glasses of the late 1940s and 50s. The pair you have by no means "meant" for a woman at all, unless you mean size-wise. Otherwise, they would suit a man just fine.

Hmm, slowly persuading me to get lenses in these

I think what also geared me to believe they were for females was that I saw a pair listed like these that were someones Grandmother's glasses... Any idea as to how old these are? 20s/30s?

Monte, yes sir! I do need glasses horribly, but I hate wearing them. That will change when I can find a pair that actually works with hats (I ordered a pair form the 20's or so, so they should be here next week sometime, so I will post those after I am done moving).

MisterGrey · Feb 11, 2013

splintercellsz said:
Hmm, slowly persuading me to get lenses in these I think what also geared me to believe they were for females was that I saw a pair listed like these that were someones Grandmother's glasses... Any idea as to how old these are? 20s/30s?

Monte, yes sir! I do need glasses horribly, but I hate wearing them. That will change when I can find a pair that actually works with hats (I ordered a pair form the 20's or so, so they should be here next week sometime, so I will post those after I am done moving).

The two-screw model, like yours, was called the "Numont" (from "new mount") and was a later development. Earlier models had four screws-- two at the bridge and one at either temple. Removing the temple screws was supposedly a cosmetic enhancement and was also supposed to clear up peripheral vision. So I would peg yours at later 20s or 30s; could be later, though, as this style stayed relatively popular for a while, going into the 1940s.

Further support for the style being unisex: Mr. Glenn Miller

And though it's not a period photo, it is from a period piece-- the talented (and striking) Clancy Brown as the wonderful character Justin Crowe on "Carnivale"

(The glasses actually serve a function in the series in regards to Crowe's character-- in the first season, when he is struggling with his dark nature, Crowe always wears glasses. After he embraces his inner darkness, Crowe only uses them to read. The lesson here, apparently, is that myopia = good, presbyopia = evil).

ETA: My wife's grandfather also apparently wore these, as well. My mother-in-law has them somewhere around her house but has misplaced them, and has been looking for them to give to me for several months. As neither my wife nor MIL have the same level of glasses love that I do, their descriptions may be inaccurate, but it sounds like they were either numonts or rimways (the four screw style).

RBH · Feb 14, 2013

I just picked these up off of E-Bay.

Yep E-Bay...not free Bay cause they were not free, I paid with Pay Pal...not prey pal.
I guess you could say I sniped them, the bid I placed did not go to my high bid but it did help when another bidder bid in the final seconds.
So I sniped it away from him or her.

splintercellsz · Feb 14, 2013

MisterGrey, thank you so much for the info! Glenn Miller... wow!

RBH, those look killer!

Here is my 'new pair'. Dated what looks to be: 8/11/23, or 8/14/23. As you can see, the earpiece is snapped, but that should be an easy replacement.

Just for kicks, here they are on my head. I don't think these work with my face shape, but if ya'll like them, I will have to go get them fitted and new lenses put in (the original ones are like magnifying glasses).

Viktor · Feb 14, 2013

Michael Douglas - Eyeglasses - Falling Down

Anyone have a clue who made these glasses? A few sites point to Shuron, Shuron did not make this style of shield. Maybe B&L or a boutique company out of China back in the 90's.

earl · Feb 14, 2013

Viktor said:
Anyone have a clue who made these glasses? A few sites point to Shuron, Shuron did not make this style of shield. Maybe B&L or a boutique company out of China back in the 90's.

Several years ago, picked up a pair of glasses closely resembling them from WalMart only in tortose shell. Love them. Still also have my previous glasses which are wire rims of the sort mentioned in this thread-not the 20's type but that other 1. Earl

Landman · Feb 14, 2013

Michael Douglas' glasses look pretty similar to Ray Ban Clubmasters except with clear lenses.

TomS · Feb 15, 2013

Those round specs seem to be timeless. I just saw a pair of Brooks Brothers today at a local optician that could have come from the thirties..

DoubleXX · Feb 15, 2013

Landman said:
Michael Douglas' glasses look pretty similar to Ray Ban Clubmasters except with clear lenses.

-Right you are. I have the exact same glasses; bought them about 10 years ago. Not sure if Ray Ban still makes them or not....

cookie · Feb 15, 2013

RBH said:
I just picked these up off of E-Bay.

Yep E-Bay...not free Bay cause they were not free, I paid with Pay Pal...not prey pal.
I guess you could say I sniped them, the bid I placed did not go to my high bid but it did help when another bidder bid in the final seconds.
So I sniped it away from him or her.

Done good. Sniped fine.

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