Men of Vision. A history of Laubman and Pank 1908 - 1988

Historical Significance: Laubman and Pank was a large optometry firm founded in 1908. It enjoyed a reputation for enterprise and innovation and was well regarded in the profession, unlike the other large optometry firms, Coles and Garrard in Melbourne and Gibb and Beeman in Sydney, which were considered to be commercial, narrow in vision and and a barrier to the development of optometry as a profession. Laubman and Pank founded SOLA, a large multinational CR39 lens manufacturer based in Adelaide, which lead the development of CR39 lenses in the second half of the 20thC as the lens material replacing glass. Laubman and Pank was sold to OPSM as were Coles and Garrard and Gibb and Beeman in OPSM's search for market expansion in optometry, ending for Laubman and Pank the great vision of a large enterprising company run and controlled by optometrists. See Clin Exp Optom for profiles of David Pank, the son of the founder Carl Pank, (Watkins R David L Pank AM AFC Clin Exp Optom 2004; 87: 121-123) and Donald Schultz (Watkins RD. Donald Herbert Schultz Clin Exp Optom 2004; 87: 187-190) the technical genius behind the Company and SOLA.