Vintage Sunglasses

[HadleyH]

But since I've only worn Ray-Ban Wayfarers for the past 20 years, and did so today, I have to say that Hadley has made an excellent choice. As always.

Thank you Lincsong!

 

[Spitfire]

Top shades Hadley - great pics!:eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[HadleyH]

Spitfire, thank you very much!




I think those look great on you! :eusa_clap

My new vintage RAF Mark VIII ones. Love'em!

 

[fleet16b]

For me the only sunglasses I like are my Ray Ban Signets.
I like the retro shape of them and the frames are very solid and sturdy,
over the past 20 yrs I have worn them exclusively.
At present, I m on my third pair and have a 4th pair put away as back up.
I fly a Vintage 1940 Bi-plane and of all the aviation sunglasses I've check out, Ray Ban are still superior by far. Besides , I think they look cool and go with the vintage style of the airplane.

 

[Spitfire]

No more sun up here for the next couple of months
<<< So now it's only glasses.

 

[Jerekson]

Hey Spit, glad to see you got a good pair of reading glasses! I remember when you were having trouble with that.

 

[CaddyKid21]

I wear my Pulmosan Saftey Goggles everyday, ill get a picture up soon.

 

[JoeSki]

Where does one find Windsor/Lennon style sunglasses?

I'm not sure what did it, but for the past year I've been really wanting a pair of darkly tinted sunglasses with perfectly round frames. Actually, it was probably Leon, from the film The Professional that caused me to seek this style out over the course of what has been about a year.

"A Year? My word!"

Yes, yes. As I'm sure you've guessed by now I'm not quite the usual audience of the message board here. I'm not too good at scouting for vintage goodies, nor do I usually have the money to purchase them when I happen across them. I do appreciate the style though and I've made it a point to at least own a real fedora.

But I digress.

I've searched for glasses along these styles high and low online and in town and the closest thing I've come across has been party favor glasses at Ebay. The ones that looked the most real on Ebay I quickly purchased and later found them to be made of plastic and about two sizes too small.

On the current the Sunglasses Thread on this board I see DinerMan has obtained exactly what I'm looking for:

As for Leon from The Professional...

Can anyone tell me where is a good place to purchase glasses like these? After looking for so long it certaintly seems like they're no longer being made...or at least not on a mainstream level. Is there a good online shop out there that sells them? Perhaps something not easily picked up by a Yahoo or Google search? Or does anyone know of a shop in the Orlando Florida area?

Help would be very much appreciated .

 

[Dinerman]

use ebay- search for Willson sunglasses- tick search titles AND descriptions. There's usually a couple pairs up, if not, wait a little while. They're tough to find, and expensive new. The vintage ones are very nicely made, and usually don't go for too too much.

 

[anon`]

Ebay! But someone will snipe you by 50¢ at the last minute

I actually just picked up a pair at the antique show here in Portland last weekend (they promptly broke in two, but we mustn't ask why!) and I do on occasion see them show up at antique stores.

I have found, however, that Windsor frames are found far more often with clear prescription lenses in them, and that these can often be had for quite cheap (I have another pair that I picked up for $8 that are in remarkably good condition, all things considered). You might consider going this route if you can find a place in your vicinity that can source tinted lenses for you. Just beware that it was not uncommon for frames to be riveted closed, making it difficult--if not impossible--to transplant lenses into them.

 

[JoeSki]

use ebay- search for Willson sunglasses- tick search titles AND descriptions. There's usually a couple pairs up, if not, wait a little while. They're tough to find, and expensive new. The vintage ones are very nicely made, and usually don't go for too too much.

Oh excellent! Thanks for the help. This has put me on another lead: vintage safety glasses. Oddly enough, a lot of these seem to have the exact same look and especially have the dark tint.

I have found, however, that Windsor frames are found far more often with clear prescription lenses in them, and that these can often be had for quite cheap (I have another pair that I picked up for $8 that are in remarkably good condition, all things considered). You might consider going this route if you can find a place in your vicinity that can source tinted lenses for you. Just beware that it was not uncommon for frames to be riveted closed, making it difficult--if not impossible--to transplant lenses into them.

Thanks for the tip. I'll look into that.

 

[Creeping Past]

This place has the style of frame you're after — or this one. Both UK, I think. Both UK companies.

The thing with the old frames is they're often too narrow. But with the new ones you can get different sizes.

 

[Justdog]

Wayfayer

I took these photos yesterday....



Sizzling:eusa_clap

Ray Bans Gatsby

 

[Justdog]

Ray Ban Gatsby

 

[CaddyKid21]

Joeski, check out http://www.allynscura.com/ for the Lennon shades and the safety glasses.

 

[cookie]

Over the last 20 years British spectacle frame manufacturing has 'died' and there are now just a few of us who might genuinely be able to stamp their finished products with 'Made in England'. There are historical reasons for the demise of British frame manufacturing. Post-war labour Government introduced the NHS frame range that was subsidised using taxes and nearly all manufaturers relied on these subsidies without having to compete in the international arena. These frames had no export market at the time. In the early 1980s, Mrs Thatcher's Conservative Government got rid of the NHS frame range and de-regulated the Opticians' trade. Later in the same decade designer eyewear from Europe entered the British market. The few surviving companies could not in any way take on Luxottica and 'Armani'. At the same time there came a huge worldwide downturn in acetate frames and this was the 'final nail in the coffin'. Anglo American Eyewear, Cambridge Optical and Paul Green Eyewear have long ceased as manufacturing enterprises. On the other hand, over the same period many very English sounding names have appeared on the display stands of nearly all our optical retailers. The same 'English' brands are also sold using PR and hype to unsuspecting Europeans, Japanese and the Americans giving the impression that the product has been made in England.


Luxotica even bought Bausch&Lomb aka RayBan. Now the designer stuff in the shops (the optometrists tell me) is made in China and stamped made in Italy because they are re-exported there for fianl checking and that way pass the test for an EUR stamp. But then suddenly the AUD600+ frames are now AUD350 in Sydney shops. I wonder why?

 

[Jerekson]

Depends what you're looking for. If you need something cheap just type "round sunglasses" in eBay. If you want some vintage quality, type "antique sunglasses".

Do any of these strike your fancy?

 

[Duck]

Jerekson, The green pair is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!:eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[anon`]

Nice collection, Jerekson. Upper left and lower right, especially!

 

[Jerekson]

Thanks fellas.