Moulded plastic COIL spectacles glazed with high plus cemented Franklin style bifocals, with specially designed moulded plastic case
 Catalogue Number: 1894 Moulded plastic COIL spectacles glazed with high plus cemented Franklin style bifocals, with specially designed moulded plastic case Category: Spectacles and lenses Sub-Category: Spectacles with case Time Period: 1940 to 1999 Place Of Publication/Manufacture: England Publisher/Manufacturer: Combined Optical Industries Ltd. (COIL) Description Of Item: Clear (Crystal) plastic frame, 142 x 46 mm, marked 'COIL Made in England' on the left side, saddle bridge, hockey sides, plastic moulded hinges secured by a metal pin, glazed with plano plastic carrier lenses into which are mounted high plus split style bifocal lenses 34 mm in diameter. The case is black moulded plastic shaped to accommodate this particular frame, hinged lid that clips shut. Marked on the inside of the lid is a blue label reading 'PROTEM C.O.I.L SLOUGH BERKS ENG' Moulded 'MADE IN ENGLAND' on outside bottom of case. A cleaing cloth is included in the box. Historical Significance: These spectacles are a nice example of the ingenuity of optical manufacturers to provide a cosmetic solution for patients who because of aphakia from cataract surgery (or other reason) require high power corrective lenses. Combined Optical Industries Ltd. (COIL) was founded in 1936 by Arthur Kingston and was soon regarded as the leader in plastic optics. The company pioneered techniques in the precision moulding of plastic optics using injection and compression moulding. As more and more low-vision products were introduced, the brand name 'COIL' started to become recognised throughout the world for its low vision aids. although in recent years these have been limited to magnifiers rather than moulded spectacles. It is based in Slough in Berkshire England. How Acquired: Donated by Robert Kaye, Sydney optometrist and former Fellow of the College Condition: Very good Location: Archive Office. Spectacles cabinet Drawer 16 |