FITS-U eyeglasses (fitting set)
 Catalogue Number: 2035 FITS-U eyeglasses (fitting set) Category: Equipment Sub-Category: Dispensing tool Year Of Publication/Manufacture: c1920 Time Period: 1900 to 1939 Place Of Publication/Manufacture: Southbridge, Mass, USA Publisher/Manufacturer: American Optical Company Description Of Item: Pince-nez bridge fitting set. Blue leatherette covered timber box 139 x 285 mm with covered fold-out lid, felt lined interior fitted to hold 12 rimless oval eye pince-nez. Gold coloured metal sadde bridge fingerpieces. The left lenses of the pince-nez are marked with a cross and a three digit number and the right lenses are marked with a cross, the word FITS-U and BO3112. Inside the lid is a fitted cardboard label with a photograph of a woman holding a pince-nez and the words 'Fits-U Eyeglasses Patented. SHORT BRIDGE' This label also has a table giving the dimensions that correspond to the code numbers on the lenses and a text explanation of the fitting and numeric ordering system. Historical Significance: The trial fingerpiece set was an optician's tool to fit patients with an appropriate pince-nez. This set was probably made by the American Optical Company since the company is known to have made such sets using the brand name FITS-U. See http://pincenez1.blogspot.com/2008/03/trial-fingerpiece-set.html. The "Fits-U" trial fingerpiece sets were made from 1903 to about 1930 by the American Optical in Southbridge, Massachussetts. Smaller makers such as Perfex and Shur-On also made pince-nez fitting sets. There are three different factors determining fit of pince-nez: 1) interpupillary distance, 2) height of the bridge, and 3) inclination of the crest of the bridge. These parameters are designated in the three digit number on each lens, The first digit of the three digit number indicates pupillary distance in the unit of 1/16th inch, the second digit indicates the height of the bridge (also in 1/16 inch units) and the third digit indicates the inclination of the bridge beyond the plane of the lenses. See Cat No 1729 for another example. How Acquired: Not known Condition: Very good, but 2 lenses cracked, 1 nosepiece missing Location: Archive room. West wall. Unit 2 Drawer 2 |