Code: C10505
Dimensions:
A pair of green glass Richardson railway spectacles
The spectacles have four D shaped green glass lenses on a blue steel sprung wire frame with hinged arms. The lenses are green tinted glass and do not magnify. Complete with case with flip opening end.
English, circa 1850.
The glasses 11cm W, 3cm H.
In the nineteenth century rail travel began with a passengers being carried in open-top carriages with the wind, funnel smoke and sparks from the track in their faces. A particular type of protective spectacles with D-shaped lenses arose shortly before this time and came to be known as 'Railway spectacles'. Sometimes such spectacles had tinted lenses and can be seen as early sunglasses in that they were for outdoor use. D. Richardson patented the use of the side lenses.
