Vintage Sunglasses

Salv · Jun 9, 2007

jake_fink said:
...
PS: Salv, I may have forgotten a track list. If that means antything to you yet, let me know.

Sorry jake, I've only just seen this - after some head scratching the only thing that comes to mind is that you said you'd send me something in return for the Stiff documentaries. Is that what you mean?

jake_fink · Jun 9, 2007

Salv said:
Sorry jake, I've only just seen this - after some head scratching the only thing that comes to mind is that you said you'd send me something in return for the Stiff documentaries. Is that what you mean?

It is; I take it the package hasn't arrived. When it does, there may be something missing.

Cheers, Salv.

Martinis at 8 · Jun 10, 2007

Yes, I had those when I was a US Army officer. I found them to be uncomfortable, but they were the only sunglasses authorized for wear with uniform. If I recall correctly, they were only allowed in gray and green lenses. No amber, or other colors.

Pilots here may want to comment, but I understand that current aircraft instrumentation now precludes the use of polarized lenses.

M8

Salv · Jun 10, 2007

jake_fink said:
It is; I take it the package hasn't arrived. When it does, there may be something missing.

Cheers, Salv.

No, nothing in the post yet. I'll let you know when it arrives.

Jerekson · Jun 13, 2007

The DiCaprio glasses from the film, The Aviator.

I'm getting an almost-identical pair made as we speak.

Treetopflyer · Jun 13, 2007

Still in use

They are still issued to flight crews in the Navy and Marine Corps. Not sure of the other services. They are good for wear with a flight helmet because they are easy to take on and off with the helmet on. You can also buy them at the Navy Exchange for about twenty bucks. As for not wearing them in the cockpit due to the polarized lenses, never heard of it.

Martinis at 8 · Jun 13, 2007

Treetopflyer said:
...As for not wearing them in the cockpit due to the polarized lenses, never heard of it.

I think what I heard was for either HUDs or panel-lighted instruments, non-analog. Could be urban legend.

M8

Grit · Jun 14, 2007

Martinis at 8 said:
Yes, I had those when I was a US Army officer. I found them to be uncomfortable, but they were the only sunglasses authorized for wear with uniform. If I recall correctly, they were only allowed in gray and green lenses. No amber, or other colors.

Pilots here may want to comment, but I understand that current aircraft instrumentation now precludes the use of polarized lenses.

M8

Polarized sunglasses aren't recommended for pilots, but it has nothing to do with aircraft instrumentation. There's nothing about glass-cockpit displays that precludes the use of polarized eyewear, but...

...polarized glasses dramatically reduce glare. And, well, a lot of the time the only way you're able to spot traffic is the flash of light off a windscreen or other bright surface. Polarized lenses can cut this flash to almost nil. And if you can't see traffic, it's hard to avoid. :-(

When I was a kid flying radio control planes it was a lot harder to see the things with my sunglasses, which were polarized. Go figure.

The Wingnut · Jun 14, 2007

http://www.aosunglasses.com/pilot.htm

Same thing, $60, and you get actual pictures instead of a drawing.

Jerekson · Jun 23, 2007

And here they are:

I really liked the glasses DiCaprio wore in the movie, so i decided to get a similar pair (tweaked to my preferences).

They are antique reading glasses with polarized lenses.

PADDY · Jun 24, 2007

VERY Nice...

I LOVE THOSE glasses!!:eusa_clap Great thread here!

Edward · Jun 27, 2007

Jerekson said:
Wayfarers are quite cool. I think they're more of a fifties thing, though.

If memory serves, Ray Ban introduced the Wayfarer first in 1954... The ones in that picture are I think actually in the style of Clubmasters (as JB mentions) - not sure when those came in. I'd like a pair of 30s-style sunglasses myself (the welding goggles up at the top look great!) for those times when the wayfarers don't fit...

Jerekson · Jun 29, 2007

Yes, I've since figured out the difference between Wayfarers and Clubmasters - and I definitely prefer the clubmaster.

I think Wayfarers are cool, but they're one of those things that have been abused by pop culture too much. Now you can't wear a pair of Wayfarers without a flood of stupid comments.

I'm actually surprised at how much Clubmasters are shelling out on eBay.

Quigley Brown · Jun 29, 2007

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PADDY · Jun 29, 2007

Quigley...

Is that YOU or Jack Nicholson in that photo? "Ever danced with the Devil in the pale moon light?"

PADDY · Jun 29, 2007

Jerekson, great examples of vintage sunglasses!

But WHERE on earth can a man get them? or is anyone out there doing decent repro copies of these styles from the 30s and 40s?? [huh] Surely there must be someone out there?

Jerekson · Jun 30, 2007

To tell you the truth I have yet to find a decent supplier of repro glasses.

All the glasses I own I bought via eBay. It really is the best place to go when you are looking for antique sunglasses. It can get really frustrating though...and really expensive.

If you would like to take an easier path, I would suggest this:
Go to eBay and look up antique eyeglasses. This will pull up a bunch of old reading glasses and spectacles. Find one you like (they usually are at 10-20$) and bid on it...you have a better chance of winning these because people don't have as much of an interest in old reading glasses as they do sunglasses.

Once you get them, you can get your optometrist to put lenses in for you. That's how I got the black glasses pictured above.

Sadly, I don't know of an easier way. You can either bid on an authentic pair or get some frames and put your own lenses in.

Jerekson

Flieger · Jul 2, 2007

I have my eyes on these (no pun intended) - said to be "late 40's, American":

However, they look a bit feminine in style to me...??? Are they?

/Flieger

Dinerman · Jul 2, 2007

look like mens. Kind of aviatorish (by which I mean aviator like ray ban, not like the ones in the movie the aviator.)

Flieger · Jul 2, 2007

Thanks Dinerman.

I'm normaly not drawn to the "aviator" style type of sunglasses, but these had that "something" about them that I liked. Well, I have to just wait and see what they look like on... if they are too feminine maybe my wife like them.

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