Geneva Optical Company catalogue

Historical Significance: This is a comprehensive illustrated catalogue of the Geneva Optical Company with prices. The products include lenses, spectacle frames, spectacle cases, dispensing tools and instruments, ophthalmic instruments and signs for optometrists. The Geneva Lens Measure is one of the products as is the Prisoptometer (p 100) (See picture). See cat Nos 202 and 570 for these items. The section on optometrists signs is of particular interest. The Geneval Optical Company takes its name from the west New York State town of Geneva. There is a record that it moved to new premises in that town in 1893. The first page of the catalogue shows it has offices in Chicago, St Louis, Cincinnati, Minneapolis and Des Moines. It formed a business relationship with the Standard Optical Company in 1893. Ms Moody, who may have been the owner of this item, was a founding member of the Victorian Optical Association. Its register of members (Cat No 1641) gives her name as the 16th listed member and designates her as a foundation member. She was the only woman member of the Association and may therefore qualify as the first Victorian woman optometrist. She did not seek registration as an optometrist in 1938, when optometrists were first required to be registered by law.