Transcript American Optical History

The Optical Heritage Museum
Dick Whitney – Curator & President
http://www.opticalheritagemuseum.org
http://www.dickwhitney.net
The
Museum 1983-2000
Ruth Wells and John Young
before the 1983 Museum Opens
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Ruth Wells and the Wells family (AO) founded
OSV. Albert and JC Wells instrumental. The
Wells Antique Collection was at the Wells
building at 171 Main Street – Southbridge. A
Living Museum was decided and Quinebaug
Village formed in 1938.
The Museum was located there from
1983- 2000
(the last ~10 years by Appt Only)
MISSION STATEMENT FOR THE
OPTICAL HERITAGE MUSEUM –
Sept 2004
"The Optical Heritage Museum is dedicated to
the education and enrichment of the general
public in the history, growth and contributions of
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‘The Eye of the Commonwealth ‘ -Southbridge,
MA. This will be accomplished through
continuing efforts to collect, maintain, preserve
and display cultural, social and industrial
artifacts, along with written documentation and
oral accounts."
The OHM Board
Optical Heritage Museum, Inc. Board Members:
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President and Curator- Dick Whitney
Vice President - Margaret Morrissey
Treasurer - Dave Butler
Secretary - Gary Bridgman
Board of Directors Chair – Dave Cunniffe
Southbridge Downtown Partnership subcommittee on the
Museum:
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Bruce Hynes, Johnathan and Lisa Krach, Margaret Morrissey, Maureen
Prokos, Harvey Shanbaum & Dick Whitney
George W. Wells and Daniel S.
Wells (1890’s and today)
Recent Displays – Jacob Edwards Library
Restoration of AO Negatives
underway. Shown here –
AO Americanization class
Norman Rockwell / AO Art
The Birthplace of AO -1833
The Birth of AO
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William Beecher starts a jewelry and
watch shop on the corner of main and
central streets in 1826.
AO’s birth in 1833, when Beecher
makes silver spectacle frames on the
second floor above the jewelry shop.
AO Birthplace –
Corner of Main & Central St.
AO – The Early Years
This building was located at Save More Gas Station near
Rotary (Corner of Main And Chestnut)
FIRST Building (Model in Museum)
The Arts Center and Chestnut st
in old AO Location in 1892
Factory – 1872
AO Main Plant by1892 – All Wood
American Optical Main Plant
1888
1888
Workers
In front of
building
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AO Complex - 1892
Why AO first Made Lenses
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Originally Imported lenses from Europe
1888 Import Tarriffs were adopted
Huge Celebration in Southbridge on
Nov 15, 1888. Fireworks
George Wells
George Wells
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1864- Arrives in Southbridge at the age of 17
with $100 in his pocket.
1864- George and brother Hiram hired by
R.H.Cole and then fired.
1865 – George Wells rehired by RH Cole.
1869 – George Wells offered partnership.
1891- Cole retires, George Wells Pres.
Wells Family
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George’s Sons: Channing, Albert, Joel
Albert’s Son: George B. Wells (last Wells
President of AO) marries Ruth Adams
Dyer; Ruth was instrumental in
founding Old Sturbridge Village
AO & Ophthalmic Optics
AO Ophthalmic Lens “Firsts”
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Tillyer Corrected Curve Series
Minus Toric Series
Implementation of Franklin Style
Executive Bifocal
First Plastic Photochromic Lens
Permalite Abrasion Resistant coating
AO Compact Small Frame PAL
AO Safety Products Firsts
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First Safety Goggle
First Heat Tempered Glass Lens (added
impact resistance lens strength)
Invented Calobar and Cruxite
Fulvue Frame (first with temples
attached at the top)
Executive Safety lens
AO Instrument Firsts Include:
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The LENSOMETER
Additive Phoroptor
Additive Trial Sets
Non Contact Tonometer (1972)
Cardiac difibrillator
Demand pacemaker
Solid State Laser
The AO Lensometer
Todd – AO
Wide Screen Projection
AO and Fiber Optics
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Early 1953 Dr. Brian O’Brien joins AO
(Todd-AO his top priority)
Sept 1954- AO / CIA hires Will Hicks Mid
–1957 Image Scrambler Project ends
after Hicks tells CIA code easy to break
1958 – Hicks leaves AO and Forms
Mosaic Fabrications in Sturbridge
1960 – Hicks / Eli Snitzer (AO): single
mode wavelength patent
American Optical Main Plant – Late 1890’s
(prior to clock tower)
AO in 1908 Postcard
Main Plant- Unusual View
In the Main Plant (1920’s?)
AO Offices in 1925
The AO Complex – MP Side of
River prior to demolition
AO Main Plant
Demolition (2000)
The Demolition and Construction of AO
Main Plant
The Southbridge Hotel and Conf. Center
AO From the Air - ~1965
“Recent” AO History
(Ownership)
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1949 Wells family sells interests in AO
1967 Warner Lambert Buys AO
1982 M& R Purchase AO from WL,
divests Soft Contact Lens (1984), Safety
(1990), AO Lens (1996)
AO Businesses still on Southbridge
1996 SOLA buys AO Lens Co.
The People of AO
Women played a key role
AO Women Workers in 1919
AO - 1972
AO Gathering in Mexico From
Around the World – 1999
AO Postcard (1960’s)
Companies formerly a part of
AO still in Southbridge
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AO Lens Company  Now Carl Zeiss
Vision
Aearo (formerly AO Safety)
AO Sunwear (moved to Dudley line)
Schott Fiber Optics
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Franklin Realty (Grounds / Powerhouse)
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Glass Executive Lens
manufactured in Building 50
Other Companies on the
Complex in Southbridge
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Aramark
SAIC
Stonebridge Press
Semicon
Bay Path College