Catalogue Number: 3338 Rimless fused bifocal glasses in blue leather wallet case Category: Spectacles and lenses Sub-Category: Spectacles with case Year Of Publication/Manufacture: Mid 20th century Time Period: 1940 to 1999 Place Of Publication/Manufacture: Melbourne Publisher/Manufacturer: Coles and Garrard Pty Ltd Description Of Item: Shaped glass bifocal lenses fitted to gold-filled rimless frame, curl sides each stamped '1/10 12K G F', contained in a blue-coloured pebble-grain wallet style case gold stamped under flap 'COLES & GARRARD PTY LTD / 370-372 BOURKE ST.' Historical Significance: The rimless frame was probably made in England. The lenses would have been ground and fitted to the frame in Melbourne, Australia by Coles and Garrard Pty Ltd. It was founded in March 1922 and became the largest optometry firm in Melbourne until it was sold to OPSM in 1988 and ceased trading under its name a few years afterwards. It was located at 370 to 372 Bourke Street, Melbourne. From the 1940s it established branches in country towns and at the Chadstone Shopping Centre in 1960. Earle Coles was the proprietor. How Acquired: Donated by Elizabeth Hatfield, Fellow of the College Date Acquired: June 2017 Condition: Good but solder repair to bridge Location: Archive Office. Spectacles cabinet Drawer 17 |