American Optical History

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• William Beecher arrives in Southbridge and opens a Jewelry and Watch Shop on Main St.; below photo is of Beecher trunk (Optical Heritage Museum collection) 1833 • AO’s “Birth” – Beecher and 3 apprentices make silver eyeglass frames in rooms above Jewelry Shop

1839 • Beecher moves to 2 Story building on corner of Chestnut and Main St. • Referred to as “Old Spec Shop” • Later became Hyde Tools building when AO moved to Mechanic St. 1843 • First steel Spectacles made in America were produced by machinery invented by Beecher 1848 • First gold frames made in America 1850 • Gold frames (14K-18K) sell for $7.50/pair 1853 • Frame sales nationwide total 14,919 pair 1853 • Old Spec Shop switches from Cohasse Brook power to steam power 1864

• 17 year old George Wells hired by Beecher • George & Brother, Hiram, hired by company now called R. H. Cole & Co., both are fired short time later • George W. Wells (age 17) arrives in Southbridge with $100 in his pocket 1865 • George Wells rehired by R. H. Cole

Daniel Wells Schreck, Direct descendant of George W. Wells (Portrait) in Southhbridge (2004) 1869 – Feb 26th • American Optical Company formed • Gross business of $50,000 • R. H. Cole offers 22 year old G. W. Wells partnership in business 1871

• First 3 story Wooden Structure on AO Main Plant site; drawing below shows 1872 view • Cost to build = $35,000 • 20,700 square feet 1872

• G. W. Wells becomes General Supervisor of new plant 1874 • AO introduces first Rimless Spectacles 1883 • AO plans to make its own spectacle lenses in Southbridge 1884 • First AO spherical lenses made • Production started when Import tarriffs were imposed. • Fireworks celebration in Southbridge on November 15, 1884. 1880s 1886 • AO sells 1,304,280 pairs of Spectacles • George Wells invention for drawing eyewire for spectacle frames

1888 AO Workers 1891

• George W. Wells becomes President of AO 1892 Map of AO Southbridge MA complex 1893 • AO adopts Dioptric system of lens power which is now in use throughout the world • AO begins to manufacture Toric lenses • Torics used to correct for Astigmatism AO Main Plant ~1899 before clock tower 1898 • U.S. Bureau of Standard accepts AO’s system of lens power 1901 AO Main Plant Clock Tower 1905

• AO London office opens • Begins its International operations 1907 • AO begins making Automobile goggles • AO had 2000 employees with a payroll of $1,000,000 1909 • J.Cheney Wells founds the AO Research laboratory 1910 • New “Lensdale Building” built • Made entirely of Cement • Site of Lens Manufacturing until 2005 • AO Kryptok Bifocals first Manufactured 1910 -AO Power Plant Built 1913 • Crookes glass • Later called Calobar (UV and IR Protection) 1916 • Dr. Edgar Tillyer hired by AO, Dr. Estelle Glancy 1 year later 1916 - AO Truepower Standards Calibrated at Bureau of Standards 1917

• Dr. Tillyer files first Patent • Use of common curves for selected powers • Allowed practical manufacturing of mass produced lenses • Cole’s sell final 127 shares of company stock to Wells family for $1.25 Million 1917 • AO Designs WWI mobile optical units • Self contained eyeglass facilities for the War • 2,500,000 lenses furnished to Government for War effort Early AO Logo- AOC 1919 1919-1921

• First AO LENSOMETER introduced in 1921, revolutionizing the industry • Measures spectacles lens power

1923

• AO Establishes 114 National Branches • Industrial Eye Protection Department established • Wise Owl Eye Safety Program established 1924 • Dr. Estelle Glancy • Progressive Lens Patent #1,518,405 1925

• AO acquires De Zeng Instrument of America • Expand to Ear, Nose and Throat products 1925 Safety Glasses Ad 1925 • Tillyer Lens introduced, revolutionizes spectacle lens industry

“Americanization class” at AO 1926 • Tillyer patents ophthalmic lens series where off-axis power & astigmatism errors were controlled

~1927

• AO commissions artist Norman Rockwell to paint 6 paintings for Tillyer Lens Advertising 1930

• High Temple Fulvue frame introduced 1931

• Fulvue fused ¾ segment bifocals introduced 1933- AO celebrates 100th Anniversary 1935

• AO acquires Spencer Lens • Expands into precision optics 1936

• Joel Cheney Wells retires after 43 years at age 62 • He began work as office boy • George B. Wells elected President of AO • Son of Albert Wells • Grandson of George W. Wells 1936- 1939

• In spite of the Depression • Employees increased from 5,000 to 7,000! • Sales increased from $16 million to $19 million! 1938

• Dr. Tillyer credited with the Additive Power Phoroptor 1938

• AO Bureau of Visual Science was founded 1939

• AO Legal and Patent Department established 1940

• AO first introduces plastic safety lenses made from methyl methacrylate 1941

• AO Putnam Connecticut Safety Product Facility Opens • Labor shortage in Southbridge causes expansion 1942

• AO Opens Brattleboro, Vermont facility • Began to produce 18.5 Million pairs of lenses for Armed Services 1943

• By 1943, facility has 380 workers and produces 2 Million Safety and Aviator lenses • AO provided 14 Million prescription eyeglassed to Armed

Forces & still filled WWII Prism compenstated civilian orders glass goggles (Dr. Estelle Glancy) 1944 • AO has 45% of sales in Government contracts for War effort • Sales doubled since 1934 1945

• AO Sight Screeners introduced to check vision • Industrial vision protection plan begun – The American Plan 1945 • AO Monoplex Eye opens in Southbridge • Produces life-like hand painted artificial eyes 1946

• AO begins research on Contact Lenses • First Manufacture in 1947 1947 • AO and Polaroid produce first successful curved polarized lens 1947

• Metal spectacle goggles, new 10K & 14K gold alloys for frames • Metal Frame Plant in Southbridge was completed 1948

• AO forms Plastics division • Lenticular E one-piece cataract lens introduced • Microfilm reader, Calobar uniform density lens 1950

• AO Products diversify • Camera lenses, projectors, binoculars, molded items for automobiles 1952 • AO begins to manufacture Glass Executive bifocals • Process and location stays the same until 2005 closing!!! 1953 • Quarter Century Club (25 years with company) has a record attendance of 755! 1953

• Glass Microscopic Lenses for Low Vision introduced 1954

• AO Student Microscopes introduced • AO / CIA work together on Fiber Optics • Will Hicks joins AO • AO becomes publicly owned • 9000 investors buy stock in AO • Advantages of Minus Toric surfaces for finished lens series proposed 1954 Photo – AO Main Plant August 19, 1955

• Flood devastates area, AO considers closing 1955

• Flood almost closes Southbridge facility • 15 feet of water where Hotel lobby is today • High water mark shown at second floor window (top mark) 1955 • Todd – AO’ s first production • Wide screen projection, improved Sound • Oklahoma opens in October 1955 in NYC 1955

• Diamond Studded Elsa Schiaparelli designer frame commissioned 1955

• AO sales reach $75 million 1955

• AO Electronic Lensometer patented and manufactured • Displays in Chicago 1956

• First cast finished single vision 56mm lens • Originally called Plasticor • Later to be renamed AOLITE 1957

• AO expands research in Fiber Optics, Wide Screen television, military applications 1958 • AOLITE CR-39 Aspheric Cataract Lens Introduced • New products include Rx master phoroptor & high lift ophthalmic chair 1959

• Ultra high speed camera patent & intravenous measurement device of oxygen in human blood • Fiber Optics business developed • R&D develops Sidewinder Missile for the Military 1960

• Polarstar (polarizing) & Flouristar Microscopes introduced for cancer research • Justice Dept. ruling results in AO divesting from Rx laboratories • Ophthalmic Division maintains sales, growing acceptance of Tillyer Exec & AOLITE Aspheric cataract 1961

• Optical lasers developed for the Air Force • Laser Inc. formed to R&D optics, electronics, lasers • AO Cardiometer & DC Defribrillator 1961 • Davis, Fernald & Rayner design Masterpiece FSV glass series corrected for off-axis performance errors 1961 – Dec 7 • Dr. Edgar Tillyer turns 80 (at Left) • Dr. Estelle Glancy and John Davis (bowtie) at his side 1962

• AOLITE plastic lens market rapidly expands • Record number of new frame styles • AOLITE 62mm Finished Single Vision lenses introduced 1963

• Fiber Optics • Solar powered laser transmitter completed for the Air Force 1964 • Noel Roscrow (founder of SOLA) visits the AOLITE CR-39 manufacturing plant operation in Southbridge, Mass. • AOLUX laser glass reached market, new endoscope introduced 1965

• Medical Division develops implantable Pacemaker • Tillyer Masterpiece lens, first new SV lens in 30 years • AOLITE Executive Bifocal introduced AO Southbridge ~1965 1967

• Warner-Lambert buys American Optical (becomes publicly owned) 1975 • AO Tumble Abrasion Test developed by John Young 1973

• AOLITE 66mm FSV lens series introduced 1976

• Aspheric lens design patent – John Davis 1978

• AO’s first Progressive lens introduced (Ultravue / AO7 in Europe) – Dr. John Winthrop 1979

• Glass manufacturing plant closed at Southbridge facility (6 Million Dollars in Platinum sold off) 1980 • Fulvue Cataract lens patent – Donald B. Whitney • Fulvue Cataract lens introduced • AOLITE 77mm FSV product line introduced 1981

• Unique polycarbonate decentered plano safety lens introduced called the S1000. • Prism correction for lens faceform angle 1980 • First Abrasion resistant hard coating introduced - Permalite 1982 • Photolite, the first plastic photochromic lens is introduced 1982 • Closed the Frederick, Maryland Frame Plant (out of Frame making business) • Warner-Lambert sells American Optical to M&R (Mo Cunniffe & Rudy Wood) 1983 • AO Museum opens in Southbridge (John Young, Curator) • AO Brattleboro plant closes, Safety Lens Manufacturing moves to relocate to Southbridge • AO celebrates 150th Anniversary; Optical Heritage Museum founded 1985

• AO Truvision Progressive Lens patent – Dr. John Winthrop • Fused Glass Bifocal operation closes in Southbridge 1984

• AO produce Polycarbonate Plano and Rx lenses for the Apache Helicopter pilots • Steep curve (22 Diopters!) • RX’s – individual plus torics individualized for pilots 1989

• AO OMNI Progressive Lens Bi-Polar patent – Dr. John Winthrop 1990

• Technica Progressive Lens introduced (designed for computer use) • Polycarbonate OMNI product released • Safety Division sold to Cabot Corporation 1992

• AO Pro 15 Progressive Lens released • ASPHERLITE (Aspheric SFSV) product released • Manufacturing completed its move to Tijuana (except for Glass Executives) 1993

• Tijuana (AO Lens Mex) plant flood • Aspheric Single Vision “Inside-Out” patent issued – Dr. John Winthrop / R. B. Whitney 1994

• AO Pro 16 Polycarbonate product introduced • Fire in Glass Progressive Plant at the AO Lens Mex Tijuana facility 1995

• AO Force 55 Progressive Lens introduced in 1.549 Nd Index material 1996 • Introduce AO 55 SFSV 1.549 Index (Nd) Aspheric Single Vision design • SOLA International Inc. purchases AO Ophthalmic Lens Division from AO Corporation (M&R) & renames it AO Lens Company • AO Lens Co. Corporate Headquarters relocates from Southbridge, Mass. To San Diego, CA. • Reunion of Todd-AO Researchers occurs / Visit Southbridge complex 1998 • AO Compact Progressive Lens introduced (Project Name = Short Corridor) 1999

• AO Compact Progressive Lens awarded “Best in Lens Design” at Optical Laboratory Association Convention 2000

• DOD Lease signed on March 31, 2000; Demolition of Main Plant begins in April for Hotel and Conference Center • AO & SOLA merge Sales & Marketing (East Coast Southbridge, West Coast Petaluma) • SOLA buys Oracle Lens for $17.4 Million • AO b’Active General Purpose Lens released / For Active Lifestyles – Includes Polarized version AO Main plant today – Now Southbridge Hotel and Conference Center 2001

• AO Southbridge Warehouse closed in June 2001 / Consolidate of AO and SOLA Distribution Centers 2002 • AO Reunion at Southbridge Hotel and Conference Center - ~500 attend 2005

• AO/SOLA/Carl Zeiss Ophthalmic merge to become Carl Zeiss Vision • AO Glass Executive Lens operation ceases after ~53 years 2006- AO Compact Ultra First Introduced (Completing Dr. John Winthrop’s long series of AO Progressive Lens Designs)

Lens Date Introduced • Ultravue 1974 • Truvision® 1981 • Truvision OMNI 1988 • Truvision Technica® 1990 • AO Pro® 15 1992 • AO Pro® 16 1994 • AO Force® 55 1996 • AO Compact® 1998 • AO b' Active™ 2000 • AO Pro Easy™ 2002 • AO Compact® Ultr 2006 Chronology of AO history provided by the Optical Heritage Museum

• For more info, go to: • http:www.dickwhitney.net (click on AO history) • http:www.opticalheritagemuseum.org