Windsor tortoiseshell spectacles in case
Maker
P. H. Spargo Refractionist & Optician
Date
Circa 1920
Description
Windsor eyeglasses were first produced in Britain in the 1840s, by the 1880s they were one of the most in demand eyeglass frames. They remained popular until the 1920s.
When they were first made in the mid-1800s, Windsor glasses had metal frames in gold, silver, and steel. The gold tone frames were often solid gold or gold filled. Celluloid (specifically Zylo) and plastic coatings for the frames became popular as the materials became available in later decades at which point colours and mock tortoiseshell patterns became more popular.
Windsor circular glasses have perfectly round frames, a saddle bridge over the nose, and temples that extend back from the midpoint on the frames, they were generally relatively small on the face. Unlike other shaped lenses that could only be remade by the initial manufacturer, round lenses from any brand could be a replacement in Windsor glasses
The production of true Windsor glasses fell out of fashion in the 1920s after the invention of nose pads. At this point, glasses similar in appearance, still often referred to as Windsors, incorporated nose pads and used a more gentle curvature in the temples since the additional stability was no longer needed.
From a collection of glasses formerly worn by Mrs M. Hassett (1891-1983) and her husband. The Glasses were worn from the early 1900s until 1983. They were originally obtained form optometrists in Warrnambool, Geelong, Ballarat and Melbourne, the most noted being Thomas Gaunt & Co. (Melbourne, Australia), late 19th century manufacturer and retailer of jewellery, clocks, watches and decorative items.
See full details
Do you know something about this object?
Be the first to comment on this object record.