Optical Connections: Quality control the London way

Quality control is at the heart of the manufacturing process. Manufacturers employ sophisticated systems to ensure the consistency of each step of construction and that the finished product meets the required standards. Imprints such as the British Standard kitemark and the European Union CE mark have provided a guarantee to the consumer that they can trust the quality of the item they wish to purchase. Alternatively, an official could enter your practice, remove any suspected sub-standard frames and smash them to bits with a hammer. Once upon a time…

This year, on May 12, would have seen an odd little procession weaving its way up Cannon Street in the heart of the City of London. At the head of the party would have been the masters of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers (WCSM) and the Worshipful Company of Masons (ie stonemasons), instituting a new tradition that will now, sadly, have to wait until further notice to commence. Their mission was – and will be – to inspect an unassuming, quite ordinary, chunk of limestone, originally part of a larger block, sitting within a special enclosure, made of Portland stone, within the front wall of 111 Cannon Street. The two City livery companies have undertaken to perform this duty every May whereby their masters will ‘conduct an inspection of London Stone, verifying its continued existence, and making a layman’s assessment of its condition and presentation.’ A letter will then be sent to the Lord Mayor in which will be detailed their findings. One could understand the Masons having a professional interest in a lump of stone – but the Spectacle Makers?