Gulden B-14 and B-15 Prism Bars in case
 Catalogue Number: 3804 Gulden B-14 and B-15 Prism Bars in case Category: Equipment Sub-Category: Tests of binocular vision Designer/inventor: Raymond O Gulden Time Period: 1940 to 1999 Place Of Publication/Manufacture: Elkins Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , USA Publisher/Manufacturer: R. O. Gulden Co. Description Of Item: Hinged box 325 mm x 65 mm x 40 mm covered with blue textured fabric with chromed spring loaded catch. The box is lined with blue velveteen. A gold angled strip in the top left corner of the lid has 'ANOTHER BERENS INSTRUMENT BY GULDEN' imprinted in blue. A rectangular gold label with cleaning and care instructions printed in blue is adhered centrally on the lid. The box contains two prism bars one marked 'BERENS NO B-14 VERTICAL MFG BY R. O. GULDEN 17 PHILA. PA PAT. NO. 2.229.410' on one side and prism dioptre values from 1 to 25 on the other side, the other imprinted in the same way with BERENS NO B-15 HORIZONTAL MFG BY R. O. GULDEN 17 PHILA. PA PAT. NO. 2.229.410 and prism dioptre values from 1 to 40. Adhered to a section of the face of each bar is a gold label with cleaning and care instructions printed in blue. Historical Significance: Gulden Ophthalmics, formerly R.O. Gulden Company, was founded in 1938 and has remained a family run business. R.O. Gulden's first product, the diagnostic Prism Bar, was jointly developed and patented with Dr. Conrad Berens of New York, along with many other Gulden products. Today, the business is operated by the grandson of Raymond Gulden. The details of the prism bar are recorded in the patent 2,229,410 applied for on 13-12-1938 and registered on 21-1-1941 as:OPTICAL APPARATUS An optical exercising apparatus comprising an integral bar of transparent material having a manually graspable handle portion at one end thereof, and a successive series of prismatic portions of successively varying power extending therefrom, with their basal portions being disposed along an edge of said bar, and with the prism faces on one side of said bar being co-planar. How Acquired: Donated by Margaret Banks Date Acquired: 25/10/2019 Condition: Excellent Location: Archive room. West wall. Unit 5 Drawer 2 |