Echoes of the past: Some familiar names begin to emerge

[GalleryComponent="83"]

A glance at the January 15 issue of Optician exactly half a century ago offers a picture which is familiar while at the same time one of a time gone by.

A plethora of frame suppliers featuring heavy acetates and upswept cat eye shapes are on display. Names such as Rodway Frames of Guildford, Birch's Candi-Doll, Merx of Hatten Garden, the Hame Optical Company, Sara by  Trident, Culvers, Williams, Harrogate and Phillips abound. Away from frames prescription labs such as Obrig and Alfred Mills offer their services and Spearman its refraction unit.  Looking to the future is Kelvin inviting opticians to learn its contact lens fitting systems and Ingrams with its combined spectacle and hearing aid.