Help dating old glasses and pencil

First off, let me say that I am not sure if this is the correct sub-forum to post this in so if a Moderator would please move it; that would be appreciated.

I have found what appears to be an old pair of glasses and an ornate mechanical pencil. I doubt the pencil is old, but the glasses look fairly old.

Link to album: http://imgur.com/a/GCXFT

I was told in my other thread not to link to imgur as people here don't like following links but the website gives me an error when I try to upload through the forums. So, I am sorry in advance.

I was wondering if anyone could give some insight on the items in particular, how to go about dating them, and just any information would be helpful.

Thank you all

 

You probably need to resize your pictures.

The pencil is 1950s-60s and probably came with a metallic pad.

I had glasses like those with the slide on the side. I dated mine to Civil War era.
The site that was given in your other thread should have info about them as that is where I dated mine.
Not sure about the green glass - sun glasses?

 

Here you go - Pencil

 

Glasses

 

clutteredcloset49: which site are you referring to?

 

The specs may be silver framed. The marks if any are usually inside the side bars. Possibly earlier than mid 19th C and the bi-focal or variable intensity eye protection gizmo would make them quite desirable.

 

I will check for any inscription on the glasses when I get home. Anything else I should look for in order to identify?

As for the pencil, would it be desirable at all? Do you have any idea who made it? I'm trying to find some history on it as well.

 

Are you referring to the lenses on the side? I have (somewhere) eyeglasses with the shield and/or lenses on the side as well to protect/enhance peripheral vision. I never considered that they may be actual lenses to vary the intensity! Cool!

 

The glasses are known as "Syphilis Glasses".

 

And you would think that I would know that.................

I actually wore something similar about a hundred years ago for what was then termed "eyestrain". Better known as dearth of sleep and excess of party today........

 

Agree with dating of pencil. The kind of accessory -- pad plus pencil -- one would place next to a Princess phone.

Debora

 

Those glasses are sometimes referred to as 4 lenses spectacles. This particular pair seems to have what is called a crank bridge

"Crank" bridge - upside down "U" in the U.S.
"Arch" bridge in the U.K.

And sliding temple, side arms.
Loop slide (narrow telescopic) - in the U.S.
"figure of eight" in the U.K.

I agree with Cluttered on Civil War era, mid 1800s. Here is a good site on IDing antique glasses.
http://www.antiquespectacles.com/guide/guide_to_assist.htm

That other thread was probably:
https://www.antiquers.com/threads/help-to-identify-spectacles-and-other-eye-wear.13929/#post-195456

Green glass like these was lot of times used for medical purposes as well as safety glass like doing teamster work of driving wagons, stagecoaches, etc.

--- Susan

 

Peripheral vision would be rather impaired by the bar across the middle of the lens. I am assuming that they fold inwards independently of the bar.

Any disease that makes the eyes very sensitive to light might be helped by these. Nowadays with Vampires so fashionable and people so gullible, I'd market them as glasses for Vampires to go out in daylight.

Zombies are also all the rage, but I fear no one has created any eyewear for myopic zombies

 

Since I had 3 (yes 3) surgeries on my right eye last year, that eye is very sensitive to light. I especially have problems with light that comes from the side when I am driving which is hard to block. I would love glasses like these

 

Ditto for DH. He also has had several operations on his eyes especially his left eye that has had severe retina problems. Even here in the house if near a window with sunlight streaming in, he is forever having to shield that side of his head if trying to read or watch TV. While driving he wears sunglasses that sort of wrap, curve around his eyes. He has about given up driving. I do 85% of the driving now.

Others that worn these type of glasses were "early railroad passengers used such frames to keep coal cinders and dust out of the eye. Remember, early railroad cars were not enclosed. The four lens frame faded from popularity around 1875."

Interesting article on spectacles before during and after the Civil War.
https://www.historiceyewearcompany.com/files/HOYFrevisedMcBrayer.pdf

--- Susan

 

Funny, I immediately thought of John Lennon for some reason

 

The one Ladybranch posted in post 12
http://www.antiquespectacles.com/guide/guide_to_assist.htm

 

I agree! He did wear green lens glasses with sides.
https://www.amazon.com/Lennon-Style-Steampunk-Glasses-Costume/dp/B00BIRQNQO

Somewhere I read, can't remember where, that some of these 4 lens frames with colored glass is selling as steampunk.

http://rooftopantiques.com/products...teampunk-industrial-sliding-temple-spectacles

http://eyeglasseswarehouse.com/pages/k4087-25.html

--- Susan

 

Hadn't heard that expression before so googled.
Came across this forum from 2007. Most of the links are no good anymore.
An interesting discussion on tinted glasses by civil war enthusiasts.

I copied this from post #20
"Ok, so you need another source, and this one with a military slant.....
The Prairie Logbooks, Dragoon Campaigns to the Pawnee Villages in 1844, and to the Rocky Mountain in 1845, by Lieutenant J. Henry Carleton, in this book he mentions how the soldiers traded their tinted eyeglasses to the Indians. I can't find that exact quote since the book was read 20 years ago, but here is another....."Our Chaplain, who was then with us, had on a pair of green spectacles with four glasses---there being two additional ones upon the sides to protect the eyes from the wind."

Here's the link
http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?14050-Period-Tinted-Eyepieces-or-Sunglasses

 

They are very Steampunk and the more lenses the better.
~
I not only had JL type glasses I still have them.
Even wore a brown corduroy hat just like his.
I was COOL!
Flower shirts and all.