Empire Contourmeter and datum frame rule in case
 Catalogue Number: 2898 Empire Contourmeter and datum frame rule in case Category: Equipment Sub-Category: PD ruler, pupillometer Year Of Publication/Manufacture: c 1940 Time Period: 1940 to 1999 Place Of Publication/Manufacture: United Kingdom Publisher/Manufacturer: A Wiseman and Company Ltd Description Of Item: Instrument for frame and lens fitting consisting of a metal tube and sprung nosepiece with dependent plastic 'lenses', the separation of which can be adjusted independently by knurled knobs at the ends of the metal tube. The tube is marked with a scale in mm to measure uniocular interpuplllary distances. The 'lenses' are engraved with various scales around the datum system. Black leather-covered wooden hinged case, 175 x 72 x 26 mm, with two gold-coloured metal clasps and black velvet lining. The tube is marked EMPIRE CONTOURMETER' and 'PAT. APP. FOR' Historical Significance: Early to mid 20th C optometrists placed considerable emphasis on fitting spectacle frames and locating the optical centres correctly, and this is one of many such devices for ensuring the correct positioning of lenses in frames. The BOA Museum holds two instruction books published by M. Wiseman & Co entitled 'Frame Measurement and Frame Fitting by Wiseman' and 'Frame Measurement by Wiseman' (1946). See also the Empire Datum Frame rule at Cat. No. 2237. How Acquired: Donated by Estate of William Cooper, via Peter Lewis Condition: Very good Location: Archive office. East wall shelves unit 3. Drawer 10 |