Did Ray-Ban Really Invent “Aviator Sunglasses”? Part Two of Our Investigation
For Part One of this investigative series click HERE.
I keep reading Ray Ban invented aviator sunglasses all over the internet – even from supposedly respectable sources. Did they? Let’s find out.
In Part One of our investigation we examined the bicyclist’s shield the basic design of aviator sunglasses descended from. First patent date: 1891. It was notable for its basic shape and hinged center. 20 years later (most likely after the original patents ran out) in 1911 the Auto-Glas was introduced:
AutoGlas promotional postcard, circa 1911. Note how the futuristic shape of the sunglasses stands out surrounded by the Edwardian motorcar and fashion.
It had a wire frame and lenses made of glass rather than stone and standard wire temples. The bridge still hinged but overall it’s a familiar shape.
If you’re a collector, nowadays rimless versions of the Auto-Glas are harder to find than the all wire frame version, most likely because they broke more easily and were probably discarded rather than refitted with the unusually sized lens. Note the pair to the right is rimless:
Two pair of AutoGlas motoring sunglasses, circa 1911. Photo by Moss Lipow
It should be mentioned, real aviators during the WWI era tended to wear glasses with side shields or full goggles. Open cockpits made this extra protection necessary, but when closed cockpits were developed the sunglasses previously considered “motoring glasses” then became “aviator sunglasses”.
Hinged bridge motoring/aviator sunglasses remained a dominant style until WWII. As we see here, the shape has been recycled over and over as “aviator sunglasses”. Compare and contrast the originals…
Images of AutoGlas sunglasses from my book “Eyewear”. The one in the upper left hand corner was a smaller size for ladies.
…with more recent aviator sunglasses:
Ray Ban Wings Sunglasses from the 1980s. Note the resemblance to the AutoGlas of 1911. Photo by Siegfried Schlögl.
Dior Men’s Aviator Sunglasses, circa 2010
But what about fixed bridge aviator sunglasses? Did Ray Ban invent them? We’re not done investigating yet.
The history of aviator sunglasses continues at the links below:
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Images of Ray Ban Wings shot by the estimable Siegfried Schlögl for his blog http://solarisvintage.wordpress.com/
hi moss i hope your eyewear research is going well! a friend of mine passed this on to me so i decided to say hello / where can i purchase your book in australia?
regards
pat@blink 138 opticians
Excellent detective work!
Ha! You should include it in your next book.
Got a lovely pair in my collection
A lovely pair of AutoGlas sunglasses? A lovely pair of Ray Ban Wings sunglasses?
Which?
Do you know what they sold for back then?
I had thought this question was in response to another post in this series, so I had previously mistakenly posted the price of WWII surplus AN6531 aviator sunglasses as a response. My mistake.
I’ve seen ads for the Auto-Glas, but never with prices. Although not the same item, the Warren Eye Guard wholesaled for about 50¢ per unit.
“Gold filled quality” Wellsworth motoring style glasses with side shields, from this period, wholesaled from about 80¢ to $1 per unit (ordinary white metal frames were about 20¢ less expensive):
There was probably no significant inflation from the time of the Warren Eye Shield through WWI, so it’s safe to assume the Auto-Glas wholesaled somewhere around 50¢ to $1, probably on the upper end of that range.
Just speculation, though.
The first advertisements for Ray-Ban aviators stated they would provide “real scientific glare protection” and were sold as sporting equipment. At this time, they had not yet taken on their name of “aviators”, the Second World War having not yet begun. In addition to popularity in the 19, aviators were popular in the 19 and 19, being worn by public figures like Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury, Jeff Lynne, Roger Waters and Elvis Presley .
Hi Moss, excellent story. I hope the replies are still open?
Have you ever found the Autoglas May 2 1911 patent? I’ve searched and couldn’t, but found the Oct. 12, 1909 (US 936,987) and Jan. 18, 1910 (US 946,596) ‘Shooting Glasses’ patents (as mentioned in the greyscale advert), with the exact same hinge, both by Carroll E. Cook. The reason I ask is I just aquired a pair and patent figs always look good in a display.
I also found the related May 19, 1914, ‘Goggles or Eye Protector’ (US 1,097,198) by C. J. Troppman, which shows the same glasses with a metal mesh hinge and solid folding temples.
All found using ‘Espacenet.com’.
Regards
Steve
I agree, they’d make a nice display. To be honest, I’ve yet to look for that patent. I’m a fan of minutiae but realize my days on this earth are limited, which counterbalances the time I allocate to such things.
Hi Moss, Excellent well researched story.
Have you ever seen a copy of the May 2 1911 patent for the Autoglass goggles? I’ve searched and can’t find it. I did however find two ‘Shooting Glasses’ patents Oct. 12, 1909 (US 936,987) and Jan. 18, 1910 (US 946,596) which show the same hinge, which are probably what is alluded too in the greyscale advert you show. Both patents are by Carrol E. Cook.
There are several other later patents showing variations on the theme (eg May 19, 1914, US 1,097,198, with metal mesh hinge and folding temples).
I’d like to find it as the patent figs make good displays with the item themselves (just got a pair).
All found on ‘espacenet.com’
Regards
Steve
Thank you again for the comments. I had other life things going on and hadn’t checked comments in a while. As I said, there’s a balance between my desire to pursue every possible detail and my awareness of my own mortality. I’ll leave pursuit of that document to others.