Steel-Rimmed Glasses - for real?

October 29, 2005 6:50 PM

What's meant by, and/or where to get 'em: Steel-Rimmed Glasses. I see them mentioned in older books -- a usual reference is, frames issued to GIs during WWII.

I assume this is just a reference to silver metal frames, but were they perhaps really made out of steel, at one point? (Picturing rust-stained-skin in front of my ears, not pretty.) Stainless Steel, now -- that would be cool.

posted by Rash to clothing, beauty, & fashion (5 comments total)

Yes, steel rimmed glasses were for real. Mostly for military use.
posted by jeanmari at 7:12 PM on October 29, 2005

I bought a modern pair a while ago. The frames are generally chrome plated metal (metal being what ever alloy they make glasses out of) . I seem to remember them being called p-9's or p-90's . Go to a nice, non-chain store, that looks like it has been there for ever and they will know what you are talking about.
posted by jumpsuit_boy at 8:35 PM on October 29, 2005

Sure they were! Steel replaced wood and bone in the 19th century (the original "horn rim" material was actual ox horn).

> Eyeglasses with cable temples that loop behind the ears were introduced by American Optical Company in 1885. This improvement in eyeglass frames was made possible by the introduction of Bessemer Steel (spring steel) in the late 1860's. Before the invention of spring steel, all spectacle and eyeglass temples were straight. This invention is credited to an American Optical Company employee who trained Morgan horses as a hobby. His straight temple eyeglasses would not stay on his face. He had a designer at American Optical make a pair of temples with the new spring steel. They worked so well that American Optical Company patented this new temple design.

Seriously, before this, eyeglasses rested on the ears with an arm that ended in a small wire loop. In any case, spring steel gave way to stainless steel in the early 20th century, and to plastic-type materials such as nylon around WWII.

Modern eyeglass frames certainly still are often metallic, with titanium a popular choice.

I guess I'm more curious why you would consider this odd. Certainly there's a mid-century aura around the term, but that's probably just due to the proliferation of new materials and styles around that time.
posted by dhartung at 11:48 PM on October 29, 2005

I thought ferrous materials an odd choice because they'd rust. But then, I've always wanted a pair, 'cause it sounds cool, in a rather masculine way. But titanium -- that seems ridiculous, unless your frames need to withstand the heat of re-entry.
posted by Rash at 6:10 PM on October 30, 2005

If you are the type of person who will clumsily sit on your glasses all the time (fx) then titanium can be a good choice.
posted by Catfry at 3:52 AM on October 31, 2005