logologo-optometry

Nissel Scleral Contact Lens Trial Set

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Catalogue Number: 3156
Nissel Scleral Contact Lens Trial Set
Category: Spectacles and lenses
Sub-Category: Contact lenses and accessories
Corporation: G Nissel & Co. (Aust)
Year Of Publication/Manufacture: 1950s
Time Period: 1940 to 1999
Place Of Publication/Manufacture: Melbourne
Publisher/Manufacturer: G Nissel & Co. (Aust)
Description Of Item: Black leatherette case 160 mm x 110 mm x 23 mm with two catches. G Nissel & Co. (Aust)and a GN logo is imprinted in gold on the top of the case. Inside the lid has a padded silk insert. The body of the case has a blue insert with eight recesses each containing a scleral trial lens. Lens specifications are engraved on the insert and on the lens edge, except that the -10.00 D lens is engraved -12.00 D on the edge. The -3.00 D lens has white deposits.
Historical Significance: G Nissel and Co. Australia Pty Ltd was set up about 1952 with its premises in Union Road Surrey Hills Victoria Australia. It was an associated but separate company to G Nissel and Co. in London. The company later changed its name to GNL Contact Lens Australia Pty Ltd. The original owner was a Mr Agnew who sold the business to Victor Lowe about 1954 and returned to England. Lowe had trained in optical dispensing and had worked for John Langley Pty Ltd a Melbourne wholesale optical laboratory. He and his associate Gordon Douglas studied precision optical manufacture at the Royal Melbourne Technical College and their company had a reputation for the optical quality of its contact lenses. It was one of about four Australian contact lens manufacturing companies in the mid 20th C. The company closed about 1986. See Cat No 1933 for John Strachan's recollections of the contact lens industry in Australia dated 2007.
How Acquired: Donated by David Cockburn, Honorary Member of the College
Date Acquired: 3/10/2016
Condition: Case catches corroded, surface worn
Location: Archive room. West wall. Unit 6 Drawer 2

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