15 replies to this topic

[annieb22]

My brother has these glasses which were handed down to him. Can anyone tell me who would have been the likely owner (ie. what type of soldier would have used them). There are two candidates in our family that I can think of:

My grandfather who was a Sapper in the Royal Engineers attached to 31st Bde RGA. He was a despatch rider.

My great-grandfather who was in the Oxf & Bucks Light Infantry for about 3 weeks before he was accidentally killed in Sep 1916. They look well worn to me and the outside of the case seems quite battered too. Of course, I don't know how they've been stored all these years but they seem a little too used for such a short time in the war.

Thanks for any help.

Annie

[centurion]

I think they are welding glasses - see http://www.etsy.com/...ew_type=gallery

[Doc2]

Or sunglasses?  Are they ground to a prescription or are they plain glass?  They look plain to me, but would be interested in knowing.  

Doc

[centurion]

If this http://www.ideafinde.../sunglasses.htm is correct they are not sun glasses

[annieb22]

I don't think they were prescription glasses although I can't check as my brother has them and he lives in Kent, quite a way from Plymouth.

The glasses case says 'Spectacles .........' on the lid. Most of it's rubbed off so I can't see the second word. The sides of the glasses have leather on them where the peripheral vision would be. I think they're sunglasses, not as dark as the welding glasses, that's for sure. I thought maybe they were part of the kit that they had in WWI but perhaps not.

[centurion]

annieb22, on 08 June 2012 - 05:18 PM, said:

. The sides of the glasses have leather on them where the peripheral vision would be.

Which does suggest welding glasses. As one who has been trained to weld - blocking off peripheral vision is vital to avoid accidental weld flash.

[museumtom]

Welding and brazing with oxy-acetylene requires less severe darkened glasses than Arc, T.I.G. and M.I.G  We used to use the Oxy-acetylene glasses as sun glasses also.
Cheers.
Tom.

[Terry_Reeves]

I doubt very much they are for welding, and the terminology is not "weld flash" but arc eye from electric arc welding. The glass colour is not dense enough for this process, nor, I would suggest, were they for oxy-acetylene welding.

TR (formerly a welder before moving on to other things)

[centurion]

Terry_Reeves, on 08 June 2012 - 05:50 PM, said:

I doubt very much they are for welding, and the terminology is not "weld flash" but arc eye from electric arc welding. The glass colour is not dense enough for this process, nor, I would suggest, were they for oxy-acetylene welding.

TR (formerly a welder before moving on to other things)

Terry_Reeves, on 08 June 2012 - 05:50 PM, said:

I doubt very much they are for welding, and the terminology is not "weld flash" but arc eye from electric arc welding. The glass colour is not dense enough for this process, nor, I would suggest, were they for oxy-acetylene welding.

TR (formerly a welder before moving on to other things)

In the workshops I worked in we called it weld flash -  arc eye would have been the sort of term  "those p**fs from safety" would use

[Terry_Reeves]

Interesting comment, but I'm afraid arc eye is what professionals call it.

TR

[Joe Sweeney]

Annie,


They are "Spectacles, tinted". If your relations served in the Mid East everyone got one.

If they served in the BEF-France then "Spectacles, Tinted" were officially  issued Anti Aircraft sections for use by Layers and Heightfinders for use against the glare of the sky.


Joe Sweeney

[centurion]

Terry_Reeves, on 08 June 2012 - 05:59 PM, said:

Interesting comment, but I'm afraid arc eye is what professionals call it.

TR

Shame these people aren't professionals http://www.watteredg...sh-shields.html don't be so pompous

[Terry_Reeves]

Centurion

You are perfectly entitled to your point of view and I bear you no ill-will.  However, I was referring to your attack on health and safety professionals. Joe  has answered the question I believe.

TR

[annieb22]

Joe Sweeney, on 08 June 2012 - 06:31 PM, said:

Annie,


They are "Spectacles, tinted". If your relations served in the Mid East everyone got one.

If they served in the BEF-France then "Spectacles, Tinted" were officially  issued Anti Aircraft sections for use by Layers and Heightfinders for use against the glare of the sky.


Joe Sweeney

Thanks Joe. I've been doing some internet searches and have come across a make called Willson which seem to look very similar to ours. I'm not saying ours is by Willson - I can't see any markings in my photos to this effect. I've seen them referred to as motorcycle glasses which seems totally consistent to my grandpa, the motorcycle despatch rider. Am I on the right track at all? He served in France and Belgium I believe but not in the Middle East as far as I know.

[tocemma]

This exact type was widely issued during WW2. Domed lid to the tin, usually khaki finished with the description of the contents printed on the lid. As Joe says issued to AA detachments and air observers. Also issued to Royal Navy personnel and Royal Observer Corps during WW2.

Regards

Tocemma

[annieb22]

Ah, so I'm in the wrong war. My other grandpa was a mechanic and fitter in WWII. He did go to Egypt so perhaps they were his.