Dear Katherine
With regard to historic contact lenses we consider ourselves (we believe with good reason) not only the national but the international specialist collection on this topic.
The outline of events is summarised on our website at:
http://www.college-optometrists.org/en/knowledge-centre/museyeum/online_exhibitions/contact_lenses/hard.cfm
If you require a more detailed account it is all there in the book written by our museum volunteer Tim Bowden:
Bowden, T.J., 2009, Contact Lenses – The Story, Bower House
http://www.contactlensesthestory.com/
Sadly it costs £75 but then this is a niche topic.
I believe you would be doing very well indeed to track down examples for loan from 1887. The earliest firmly datable lenses that we have are from 1922 although we have a pair of cosmetic shell 'lenses' that are associated with a set of eye models from the 1880s and MIGHT be of the appropriate vintage. Naturally these form a central and indispensible part of our permanent display, so I could supply a picture only. The original August Muller lenses from 1887 are at the Deutsches Museum in Munich where, again, we are talking about one of that museum's most iconic treasures. (id number 64676). I have a poor quality picture taken on an old-fashioned 35mm film camera.
Yours sincerely
Neil Handley, MA, AMA
Curator, British Optical Association Museum
The College of Optometrists
42 Craven Street, London WC2N 5NG
Tel: 020 7766 4353 (Direct)
Tel: 020 7839 6000 (Switchboard)
Fax: 020 7839 6800
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web: http://www.college-optometrists.org/museum
> -----Original Message-----
> From: UK Medical Collections Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
> Behalf Of Lauren Ryall-Stockton
> Sent: 17 November 2010 16:22
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Request from National Trust
>
> Sent on behalf of Katherine Williamson -
>
> The National Trust are looking to borrow a Victorian pair of contact
> lenses dating around 1887 to use in an event, due to take place at
> Cragside House in the Spring 2011. The event is highlighting
> significant inventions of the Victorian period. I believe 1887 was the
> date that several people used new techniques and materials to create
> contact lenses. Having started to look into the development of contact
> lenses it does get quite complicated with several different names
> mentioned. I had originally come across the name of F.E.Muller but have
> since come across Eugene Kalt and Adolf E Fick. If anybody has any
> lenses and more information to go with them we would very much like to
> hear from you.
>
> Regards
> Katherine Williamson
>
> House Steward
>
> Cragside
>
> Rothbury
>
> Morpeth
>
> Northumberland
>
> NE65 7PX
>
> Tel 01669622002
>
> Email; [log in to unmask]
>
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