Vintage Willson Bakelite Tortoise Shell Sunglasses
Vintage Willson Bakelite Tortoise Shell Sunglasses
29183
Folding Bakelite Tortoise Shell Sunglasses.
A great pair of 1920's round lens glasses made with Bakelite faux tortoise shell frames. The glasses have dark gray durable non-prescription glass lenses (4.8cm diameter) and perforated side shades. The side-shields are collapsible and the earpieces fold around to the front so the glasses can be more easily stored. There are no makers mark on these glasses but we did have an almost identical pair made with nickel-plated frames marked "WILLSON". These types of frames were produced as early as 1917 and were used until the end of WWII.
Size:- Frame width 11 ½ cm, arm length 11 cm.
Willson was founded in around 1871 as Thomas A. Willson & Co., and they were at one time one of the major goggle manufacturers as well as leaders in workplace safety. Willson's factory was dedicated to making optical glasses and inventing equipment to address the occupational hazards faced by factory workers. The first protective lens they produced were to block out the dangerous blinding rays produced when welding metal. Throughout the 1920s, Willson expanded their line of safety equipment to the protection of coal miners, military personnel, and aviation. As they expanded they became involved in other fields and made sports glasses, swimming goggles, and even sunglasses.
Dimensions:
1900-1949
Circa 1920's
Bakelite
United States
Good condition, side shades with cracks.
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 and perforated side shades. The side-shields are collapsible and the earpieces fold around to the front so the glasses can be more easily stored. There are no makers mark on these glasses but we did have an almost identical pair made with nickel-plated frames marked "WILLSON". These types of frames were produced as early as 1917 and were used until the end of WWII. Size:- Frame width 11 ½ cm, arm length 11 cm.Willson was founded in around 1871 as Thomas A. Willson & Co., and they were at one time one of the major goggle manufacturers as well as leaders in workplace safety. Willson's factory was dedicated to making optical glasses and inventing equipment to address the occupational hazards faced by factory workers. The first protective lens they produced were to block out the dangerous blinding rays produced when welding metal. Throughout the 1920s, Willson expanded their line of safety equipment to the protection of coal miners, military personnel, and aviation. As they expanded they became involved in other fields and made sports glasses, swimming goggles, and even sunglasses.){kind=link}