From sometime in the 13^th century through Benjamin Franklin’s invention of bifocal lenses in 1784, “eyeglasses” were not so much like we think of them today, but were an evolving apparatus, often ornamental and reserved for the affluent. But also serving to magnify and block the sun in its varied iterations. There was general acceptance that vision deteriorated with age and ailment, and that corrective lenses to improve vision would be a great achievement.

In pursuit of this visionary goal, “corrective lenses” continued to be developed and improved upon through the early 1800’s when in 1825 Sir George Airy, an English mathematician and astronomer, created the first known pair of cylindrical lenses that corrected astigmatism or blurry, distorted vision.

The Industrial Revolution

In 1833, William Beecher founded the American Optical Company in Southbridge, MA, marking a turning point in American manufacturing of corrective lenses and eyeglass frames. Before this point, most frames and lenses available were imported from Europe, specifically France, Germany, and England.

Eyeglass frames being largely a craft of jewelers, Beecher, who apprenticed as a jeweler in Rhode Island, envisioned the optical industry as an industry of its own, beckoning an era where shortly after, John McAllister would open the nation’s first optical shop in Philadelphia.

In the late 1860’s American Optical had over 15,000 employees in its American manufacturing plants. By the time William Beecher passed away in 1892, and the company was in the hands of his fellow apprentice Robert H. Cole, American Optical Company was producing nearly two million eyeglass frames and lenses per year with manufacturing the likes of which were only just becoming possible.

American Optical would go on to produce and provide eyeglasses, aviation goggles, gun sights, and sunglasses to American troops fighting in both World Wars, and later had a manufacturing plant in Brattleboro, VT, which closed in the early 1980’s.

Made in America

With globalization largely consuming the manufacture of most consumer products throughout the 20^th century and doing so cheaper than ever before, industry that produced eyeglasses domestically declined from its earlier heights.

Today, there is a push to bring more manufacturing back to America, but in the meantime, there are still come companies that are producing optical products domestically including Randolph Engineering sunglasses and Shuron eyeglasses, as well as State Optical Co., Dom Vetro, and of course American Optical, now owned by State optical Co., but still producing eyewear in America.