warsawdaddy
Gold Member
Homemade or manufactured?This was used by one of my ancesters in 1790.He rode the hills of Va as a tax assesor.Nearly killed a few times.It's the original case(deerskin w/gut lacing?)
Magnifying Glass
- Thread starter warsawdaddy
- Start date
Mental Granny
Gold Member
- May 8, 2005
- 10,072
- 112
- Detector(s) used
- Cibola
- Primary Interest:
- All Treasure Hunting
I can not imagine the value but, I love it!
Hello warsawdaddy,
This looks like something that would have been made in a spectacle shoppe of some sort.
It certainly doesn't look to be "factory-made" or home-made" for that matter.
I would assume it is something that the original owner would have "special ordered", possibly because he had a bad eye.
Though I am not an expert on antique eyeglasses, I do a lot of antique picking for dealers here in Southern Ontario and I have seen these things before. 
Value would be somewhere in the range of $50 - $100, but as I said, I'm not an expert.
This looks like something that would have been made in a spectacle shoppe of some sort.
It certainly doesn't look to be "factory-made" or home-made" for that matter. I would assume it is something that the original owner would have "special ordered", possibly because he had a bad eye.
Though I am not an expert on antique eyeglasses, I do a lot of antique picking for dealers here in Southern Ontario and I have seen these things before. Value would be somewhere in the range of $50 - $100, but as I said, I'm not an expert.
OP
OP
warsawdaddy
Gold Member
- Thread starter
- #4
Thank you.I forgot to mention that the glass is not flat,it is 'bowed'?It also has some small chipping around the edge that fits the frame .Antiquarian said:Hello warsawdaddy,
This looks like something that would have been made in a spectacle shoppe of some sort.
I would assume it is something that the original owner would have "special ordered", possibly because he had a bad eye.
Value would be somewhere in the range of $50 - $100, but as I said, I'm not an expert.
Tigershores
Greenie
- Sep 10, 2006
- 18
- 0
The lens used by your ancestor was a common single Spherical Convex Magnifier used primarily before the invention of the "Bifocal" or Split Lens. The detailed history of the bifocal is found at:
http://www.antiquespectacles.com/topics/franklin/franklin.htm
It was not uncommon to find a gentlemen aged 40 to 50 with presbyopia (deminishing near vision from age) who had decent distant vision carrying a Loupe Magnifier for when he needed to perform near work or reading. It was alot easier to carry than a pair of reading glasses in your pocket while on horseback. Single lenses go back to 965AD. You can look up the history of Optical lenses at:
http://www.antiquespectacles.com/history/ages/through_the_ages.htm
Hope This Helps!
Tigershore
Florida Optician
http://www.antiquespectacles.com/topics/franklin/franklin.htm
It was not uncommon to find a gentlemen aged 40 to 50 with presbyopia (deminishing near vision from age) who had decent distant vision carrying a Loupe Magnifier for when he needed to perform near work or reading. It was alot easier to carry than a pair of reading glasses in your pocket while on horseback. Single lenses go back to 965AD. You can look up the history of Optical lenses at:
http://www.antiquespectacles.com/history/ages/through_the_ages.htm
Hope This Helps!
Tigershore
Florida Optician
Tigershores
Greenie
- Sep 10, 2006
- 18
- 0
Forgot to mention in last post....Definitely manufactured. These lenses required extensive polishing to get the correct refractive power. Pouch might have been hand made b y your ancestor to protect the highly polished lens.
Tigershores
Florida Optician
Tigershores
Florida Optician
jlasserton
Jr. Member
It looks like it could go either way. Whether it is hand-crafted or factory-made, the magnifying glass is awesome. I love the design. I would definitely keep it and not sell it!
