The first pair of sunglasses were sold in 1929. They were sold by Sam Forster, who founded the Foster Grant brand. This marked the first time sunglasses were sold in a store. The Foster Grant brand is known for its high quality sunglasses. Today, sunglasses have many different features, including anti-glare coatings, UV protection, and polarization. These features make them very popular with both men and women.
James Ayscough Invented Sunglasses
Sunglasses have evolved a long way since the first pair was invented. The earliest sunglasses were slabs of smoked quartz, used to block the sun's light. While not the most modern sunglasses, they did help protect the eyes and hide facial expressions, such as frowning or laughing.
James Ayscough was an optician and scientist from London. He became well-known for his microscopes. Between 1740 and 1759, he owned his own shop in London. In 1752, he introduced glasses with double-hinged side pieces. He also introduced tinted lenses for people with vision problems.
Ray-Ban Aviator Sunglasses
The aviator style of sunglasses became popular during the Second World War. The picture of General Douglas MacArthur in his aviator sunglasses became a permanent image of the Second World War. Ray-Ban took the idea and created a line of sunglasses that are now known as aviators.
The sunglasses were originally made for military use but were soon introduced into the commercial world. World War II brought to light the scale and scope of humankind's military strength. It also gave rise to new ideas of the heroic stance. This had a profound impact on fashion. Bausch & Lomb, the company that invented Ray Bans, trademarked the style.
Foster Grants Sunglasses
While sunglasses have come a long way in the last century, few people realize that Foster Grants sunglasses actually existed in 1858. A pair of Foster Grant sunglasses was the first to be manufactured and marketed, and it quickly became popular with the movie stars who wore them. Despite the fact that the brand was created more than a century ago, it has managed to remain as one of the most popular and recognizable brands in the U.S.
As time passed, the Foster Grants brand of sunglasses gained popularity in the 1920s. By 1929, they were sold in Woolworth's stores, and by 1940, there were more than 20 million pairs on the market. They were also considered a fashion accessory during the Great Depression, and Life Magazine hailed them as the latest craze to hit city streets. The sunglasses had become so popular that they became more than just practical or medical lenses, and the Foster Grant Company was able to sell them worldwide.
Polaroid Sunglasses
Polaroid sunglasses have come a long way from their humble beginnings. The first sunglasses had a polarizing filter, which was developed by chemist Edwin Land in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Land then negotiated with the American Optical Company for mass production of the polarized sunglasses.
Today, sunglasses are designed to block ultraviolet rays and protect the eyes from glare. Edwin H. Land, the inventor of Polaroid, patented a polarizing filter and applied it to sunglass lenses. The resulting sunglass was first sold to the public in 1937. The sunglasses quickly gained popularity among pilots and outdoor enthusiasts.
Cowboys Didn't Wear Sunglasses in the 1850s
Cowboys in the 1850s and 1860s did not wear sunglasses. Some wore broken glass medicine bottles as eye protection. However, the desert sun was not the only source of eye damage on the frontier. Snow blindness was even worse. So, how did the Old West cowboys protect their eyes from the sun?