On the development of spectacles in London from the end of the seventeenth century

Abstract

We are able to extend our knowledge of the development of spectacles by consulting modern collections, the Court Collection especially. English spectacles before 1666 are very imperfectly known: we can only make inferences about them. After the great fire our knowledge becomes more intimate and we note that horn spectacles with rigid and with split frames are advertised and that unwieldy leather frames (of unknown shape) appear for a short time, together with the then popular hinged spectacles. Marshall's improvement in grinding and polishing a number of surfaces at the same time must also be mentioned here. In the 18th century the London artisans became the leading spectacle opticians, as they developed the temple spectacles and very efficient nose spectacles in horn and steel or (? preferably) in prepared leather and steel. The authors have tried to collect as much information as possible about these forms and to give their ideas about the outward appearance of the spectacles then in use. Minor inventions also are mentioned and Walker's untenable objections to Wollaston's periscopic spectacles treated. The 19th century was not a favourable period for the master craftsman in London, as large spectacle factories (in Rathenow and in the United States) altered the position of the spectacle vendors.