Catalogue Number: 2555 Stepper silver spectacle chain with button hole fixing with original box Category: Spectacles and lenses Sub-Category: Spectacle accessories Corporation: Stepper Eyewear Year Of Publication/Manufacture: c 1980 Time Period: 1940 to 1999 Place Of Publication/Manufacture: Germany Publisher/Manufacturer: Stepper Eyewear Description Of Item: Silver-metal spectacle chain with polished silver metal button fixing at one end to enable the chain to be secured to a button hole, and a small double elastic loop at the other end through which a spectacle side could be threaded. Unsold stock with price ticket marked $35. Chain length 430 mm. Contained in a grey-blue plastic box, 55 x 55 mm, labelled STEPPER / KS608. The item is contained in an optical wholesalers display case with other separately catalogued items donated from the same source. Historical Significance: Stepper Eyewear is a manufacturer of spectacles founded in Germany by Hans Stepper( b 1935) in 1970. He is a qualified master optician (= optometrist) as was his father. He became apprenticed as a dispensing optician and during this time showed a keen interest and passion for design and craftsmanship with optical frames. In 1958 he was invited to design and craft bespoke spectacles in Helsinki, Finland. In 1961 he returned to Germany and successfully completed his professional training with a final graduation as Master Optician. His goal was to manufacture plastic frames by injection moulding and not using the traditional method of cutting from acetate sheets and later followed fashion designing and making metal spectacle frames. How Acquired: Donated by Colin Grahame, Melbourne optical wholesaler, ex the practice of Len Angior, Melbourne optometrist Date Acquired: Dec 2014 Condition: Mint Location: Archive Office. Cabinet One Drawer 4 |