vintage glasses thread

[fre-co]

Those japanese frames are really nice, not a million miles away from mine:

http://www.superfuture.com/supertalk/showpost.php?p=1104376&postcount=201

Yours look like one of those Japanese makers that are all hand made by some old guy whose practices are unchanged since the dawn of time.

[Happy Hooligan]

I actually wear the a pair of modern shuron Ronsir which is the smaller style of the classic 50's clubman.

The nice thing about the company is they'll ship you a few pairs to try on and you keep the one you like and return the rest....

[rodeo bill]

Those japanese frames are really nice, not a million miles away from mine:

http://www.superfuture.com/supertalk/showpost.php?p=1104376&postcount=201

Yours look like one of those Japanese makers that are all hand made by some old guy whose practices are unchanged since the dawn of time.

those are ace! thanks for putting them up:) I presume they;re 'just' acetate? the colour grading looks like they could be real horn

I hope you;'re right about my YGI glasses:D I have a couple more pairs, which Ã'll post over the next couple of days. They really aren;t all that expensive, and the quality's fantastic, so I'd certainly presume they're made by a pretty small operation

[rodeo bill]

I actually wear the a pair of modern shuron Ronsir which is the smaller style of the classic 50's clubman.

The nice thing about the company is they'll ship you a few pairs to try on and you keep the one you like and return the rest....

I read about them on the website- they;re a little bit shorter/narrower, to make them slightly less full on right? Pics please:D

sounds like a brilliant service- I'd be worried about buying something as personal as glasses without trying them first- a small bit out can look really wrong! what kind of price did you pay?

[Happy Hooligan]

I read about them on the website- they;re a little bit shorter/narrower, to make them slightly less full on right? Pics please:D

sounds like a brilliant service- I'd be worried about buying something as personal as glasses without trying them first- a small bit out can look really wrong! what kind of price did you pay?

they're the same width of the normal horn rim, just shorter on the metal part for the lens...

and you can choose what ear pieces go with it too..

I got them from the factory so it was about 90 I think? If you order through an eyeglass place they're 200!

[Kwerk]

When you say you got them from the factory, do you mean you used the website?

[deadpan]

I've been taking more of a look through Shuron;s website, and these look like they might be the ones you mean?

they don;t have prices on the website, and you can;t really tell what the quality's like. But I think these look pretty cool

I had a few pairs of Shurons a while back. They're really well made, and they furnish lots of films such as JFK etc.

[fre-co]

those are ace! thanks for putting them up:) I presume they;re 'just' acetate? the colour grading looks like they could be real horn

I hope you;'re right about my YGI glasses:D I have a couple more pairs, which Ã'll post over the next couple of days. They really aren;t all that expensive, and the quality's fantastic, so I'd certainly presume they're made by a pretty small operation

Yeah Just Acetate. Where did you get the YGI frames from? I'd be interested in picking some up when I'm in Japan next year.

[rodeo bill]

Yeah Just Acetate. Where did you get the YGI frames from? I'd be interested in picking some up when I'm in Japan next year.

I actually got all my Yanagi Gawa Ichiro glasses in Hong Kong. They're pretty easy to get hold of there- any of the better opticians around Mong Kok/Yau Ma Tei. I haven;t ever seen them in Japan, but I've not spent so much time there...

Here's today's pair, also YGI. It's not so clear from the pictures, but they're matt, rather than polished. It makes them a bit different, but still subtle.

I have 2 pairs in this material. more tomorrow:)

[rodeo bill]

In other news, this afternoon I dropped into an amazing glasses shop in Soho- The Eye Company on Wardour St (http://www.eye-company.co.uk/) Anyone in London (Fre$co?) I'd really recommend it.

Steenie, the owner, showed me part of his HUGE collection of vintage glasses. He has literally everything from C18th tortoiseshell lorgnettes and russian gold pince-nez, to loads and loads of 80s Porsche Carrera shades and frames. A really nice guy too, and incredibly passionate about his stuff.

I tried on a (new) pair of these:

as worn by:

I'm really into Persol- I love the arrow branding, and the bendy rubber inserts in the temples. I'm always on the look out for a deadstock pait, but I might go new if I can;t find some after a bit more searching. I know someone who has Persol shades as glasses, and they look really cool.

edit- this style (collapsible or regular) is called 714, and has been in continuous production since 195(4?) I think he said

[fre-co]

Yeah I know the eye company, they are really very nice chaps, I had a look at some of the vintage stuff in there too. They stock the frame that I posted above. It's LA eyeworks if you want to have a look at it.

[rodeo bill]

^^thanks fre$co

I went in again today with my friend (she's looking for some glasses) and I saw yours- they're beautiful- LA Eyeworks are great.

My Friend tried on these:

LA Eyeworks 'Echo Park'. they looked fantastic on her! Definitely 50sey, but updated so they don;t look too kitsch

[fre-co]

Good stuff man. I would like to get a second pair sooner or later, I think I may try to hunt your japanese maker down when I visit in the spring and there are a few others whose names escape me now.

[rodeo bill]

Here's my last pair of Yanagi Gawa Ichiro. Also the matt acetate, these ones with the front pins as crosses. Nice box too:)

The crosses remind me of Chrome Hearts glasses, which are really fantastic. I think they may only be available in Asia? THey;re very very expensive- all the metal work is sterling silver, but the workmanship is incredible, and I think the simpler ones look great. anyone got any?

[rodeo bill]

these are silhouette frames from I guess the early-mid 90s. Very Armani/Calvin Klein baggy suits feel to them, if you know what I mean:D Silhouette are Austrian I think, anyway these are made in Austria. The temples are titanium, so they;re very light and comfy, but the fronts are plated brass. I know this because the plating has worn aaway over the 5years or so I've been wearing them- I really like that this has happened:)

[Mich]

Some truly gorgeous stuff RB, especially love the tortoiseshell ones.

I don't wear perscription glasses so i hope some pics of shades will do too.

These Wayfarers (B&L 5022) i picked up recently, not much use for them at the moment as the sun's been hiding out here lately, but i'm sure i'm gonna love wearing these when the time comes.

Supposedly they're from the early or mid-eighties.

[rodeo bill]

^^very nice indeed Mich! and great photos too

I just collected 2 more pairs of B&L raybans last night from another little optician I found in Hong Kong. Really happy to get original cases and lens cloths with both (although actually I don;t think the cases match the glasses, but still they;re B&L!)

Gatsby STYLE 2. I already have Gatsby 1 (on page 1 of this thread), and I presume this an evolution, in the same way as you have Wayfarer 1 & 2. I actually think I like this one a bit better than 1- it's slightly less round, while still being smaller and lighter than Wayfarers. The lens cloth is marked 1994/6 Olympic Games, but I reckon these are quite a bit earlier

[rodeo bill]

These ones are marked 'Traditionals' and are a bit more full on... I'm wearing them now, and they;re a bit more of a fashion statement than i normally try to make!

my guess is these are later, maybe 90s

[Leonard Leroy]

I rock a pair of vintage wayfarer IIs for prescription glasses, but this thread is subscribed just incase I decide to look for something else.

[Mich]

Those Gatsby's are really cool, and the traditionals are pretty unique too.

One thing puzzles me a bit RB, i thought you wore prescription glasses, but do all your pickups have the correct strenght for your eyes?

[rodeo bill]

Those Gatsby's are really cool, and the traditionals are pretty unique too.

One thing puzzles me a bit RB, i thought you wore prescription glasses, but do all your pickups have the correct strenght for your eyes?

thanks! glad you like them

Yes I do wear prescription glasses. But when I buy these vintage ones they;re always sunglasses, and I get the lenses changed to my prescription (in clear glass). that's why in the pictures you can see the dark lenses popped out- I always ask to keep them, for the original stickers/branding etc

[rodeo bill]

By the way Mich- sorry I didn;t ask before, but where did you get your wayfarers, and how much if you don;t mind sharing? they look like they;re in great condition! A couple of people have PMd me about where to find B&Ls, but I've only ever seen them in Hong Kong, and at one place in London where I bought the entire stock:rolleyes:

By the way, at the place where I got the black Gatsby 2s and the yellow Traditionals they also have a pair of Gatsby 1s in tortoiseshell colour (same as your Wayfarers Mich). For another US$100 or so with lenses I'm very tempted to get them too, but I'd worry that this is getting out of hand...

[kalanigee]

Does anyone know what the style is called that you see in movies on old government types, like on Tom Hanks in Catch Me If You Can? They look kind of like ray ban clubmasters.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41DHHQ5VN9L._SL500_AA280_.jpg

Sol Moscot too

http://www.moscot.com/products/YUKEL.php

[Mich]

By the way Mich- sorry I didn;t ask before, but where did you get your wayfarers, and how much if you don;t mind sharing? they look like they;re in great condition! A couple of people have PMd me about where to find B&Ls, but I've only ever seen them in Hong Kong, and at one place in London where I bought the entire stock:rolleyes:

By the way, at the place where I got the black Gatsby 2s and the yellow Traditionals they also have a pair of Gatsby 1s in tortoiseshell colour (same as your Wayfarers Mich). For another US$100 or so with lenses I'm very tempted to get them too, but I'd worry that this is getting out of hand...

Sorry RB, didn't read your comment earlier, i got these from a Dutch ebay-like site for €35 incl shipping and they are in pretty mint condition, but used though.

Especially the hinges can sometimes get looser if they have been used much, but on these they still function very good.

I've also seen a pair of Wayfarers on there which were black with electric blue edges, very cool but they had prescription dark glasses in them and the original dark glasses didn't come with them

I'd say get those tortoiseshell coloured Gatsby's while you have the opportunity, but then again i'm a sucker for tortoiseshell

That's not a bad price with lenses and all!

[Julien]

Hi Guys, I think that we share the same adiction.

Very nice collection Rodeo Bill!!

I inherited my father's Ray Ban Wayfarer II B&L's. But I always was afraid to wear them. And I stil am.

I have a Thing for White glasses, And I reacently found a pair of Ray Ban Wayfarer II B&L's in White. I just got them in about a week ago.

Here some pic's:

The white ones that I just got, are in New condition. They feel stiff and shows no wear.

Nice!

[Mich]

Good to see another addict, those are some very nice Wayfarer II Julien, i don't see those white ones very often.

[rodeo bill]

those white wayfarers are awesome julien! difficult to tell, but it look like the writing on the insides is gold?? excellent case too- I really like the press-sides style.

are they both Wayferer IIs? the white ones look deeper than the tortoiseshell... I think rayban may have slightly altered the shapes at different times and still kept the same model numbers though.

i know what you mean about not wanting to wear them- i feel the same about my granny's tortoisehell glasses. But in a way there;s no point having them if you don;t enjoy them, and with acetate (like our raybans) you're not going to harm them, so i say rock 'em with pride:cool:. I do understand when something's inherited it takes on a more personal meaning though, which can be more important than just the vintage aspect.

anyway, I'm a bit pissed up, and i'm rambling, but excellent glasses, and thanks for sharing:)

[Julien]

Thanks guys,

They are both Wayvarer IIs and with gold writing on the inside.

It's true that the white ones have a diffrent shape. They fit alot better to.

I'd notice that My White Wayfarer has transparent (nose parts) and the Wayfarer from Mitch to. I want to know if that indicate some thing. Like Year, are a particular collection or something. And could you also tell me if there is any diffrents in gold or not-gold writings inside?

I'm asking sins you guys know more about Glasses then I am.

I have two more Wayfarer's but these aren't Vintage. the smal ones. And I am Plannig this next summer to buy me som Persol 649 or 714.

Thanks again

[Mich]

They are both Wayvarer IIs and with gold writing on the inside.

It's true that the white ones have a diffrent shape. They fit alot better to.

I'd notice that My White Wayfarer has transparent (nose parts) and the Wayfarer from Mitch to. I want to know if that indicate some thing. Like Year, are a particular collection or something. And could you also tell me if there is any diffrents in gold or not-gold writings inside?

I'm asking sins you guys know more about Glasses then I am.

First of all, i'm far from being an expert on glasses, but to explain the transparent nose parts, it would be my best guess that your white wf's are from an earlier production date than your tortoise coloured ones.

I've come to this conclusion since mine are the wf I and yours are both the wf II, so i'm guesing somewhere along the line they changed the shape and some of the detailling of the wf II.

Someone please correct me if i'm wrong on this assumption.

The shape of the white ones also resembles the wf I's more.

btw, mine have a banana yellow writing inside, you can see it on some letters that haven't faded over time.

[rodeo bill]

^^^like Mich, I can;t call myself an expert on frames at all, certainly not daiting things better than a guess. As I understand it though, acetate frames are lamintated, or built up into the 3D shape from lots of thin layers (as opposed to Nylon frames, which are injection moulded). So when you get trasparent, or contrasting colour, nose pieces, it's just that they've changed the colour of the acetate at that (furthes out) point, No idea on dating though I'm afraid:o All my Wayfarers have solid black nose pieces, but my Gatsbys have translucent ones.

This evening I've just been in STAR OPTICAL in Causeway Bay, and they've got about 20 pairs of B&L rayband in stock. At first I went crazy (my friends I was with thought I was crazy) but actually none of them were that great... quite a few pairs of round gold-rim semi-aviator type (similar to the ALGHA gold frames I posted on the last page), and some pretty dodgy looking plastic/metal combos. All 90s I'd say, and not that exciting. Still, a heads-up if anyone in HK's interested. They;re priced to sell too!