American Optical History
AO's Ophthalmic Lens Designers
Dr.
E.D.Tillyer- "DOC"
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Flats/3808/
(Internet link to Tim Tillyers Biography of his Grandfather)
Order Newly Published limited edition hardbound book
by Tim Tillyer -
Titled "Doc- A Biography of Edgar Derry Tillyer
email Tim for Details
"It was Dr. Edgar D. Tillyer’s particular job in the AO Research
Division to study light before it enters the eye. It
is generally acknowledged the greatest single achievement of Dr. Tillyer
and the group was the development of the marginally corrected lens.
The idea was not new. As early as 1804, physicists recognized the
problem of producing an accurate or corrected lens. There was such
a lens on the market in 1915, however, it had to be ground at the factory
to assure accuracy. “But the distinction of combining correction
for both astigmatism and power, and the further distinction of making such
complete correction available to the optical trades and professions through
prescription service for the first time belong to ... the Research Division
of American Optical Company under the capable leadership of Dr. Tillyer.”
(E. E. Orrington, History of Optometry, 1929). But Tillyer and his
group didn’t stop with the “Tillyer Lens.” There were many other
avant garde (for their time) developments such as the Ful-Vue Bifocal;
Calobar Glass (absorption lenses used by the millions during World War
II); Lensometer (first truly accurate method of measuring lens power);
aviation lenses (no-power lenses to overcome prismatic distortion, used
by fliers in World War II); Venturi aviation goggles; Cruxite glass; Tillyer
cataract lenses; trial sets; additive power phoropter."
- 150th AO Anniversary Summary of Doc Tillyer - 1982
Link to 1982 Southbridge News Article on AO Employees and their recollections of "DOC"
1953 Article on Doc Tillyer
Medal
(courtesy of Jacob Edwards Library)
Doc Tillyer Article in Nov 04 Optics and Photonics News - Nov 10, 2004
Doc's 70th Birthday card -Courtesy of Tim Tillyer who writes:
Here is a picture of a "birthday card" I have that was given
to Doc on his 70th birthday party. Actually it is a pen and ink drawing
by B. J. BRADEEN and is about 15 x 12 and it is signed by 34 of Doc's co-workers.
These signatures include J.J. STEVENSON, Bill HERMAN, Sam T. SHEARD, Harry
CRANDON, Ben GROSVONOS (?), Harold GOULD, Roger WADSWORTH, John COWARD
(?), Larry LITCHFIELD, Louis ROWE, Bessie KRALY, Ed MOON, Win DRORELL,
Bob HAYNES, A. Estelle GLANCY, Ariene RAYNER, Grace BULL, Mary J. QUINT,
Adele TILLER(?), Henry FERNALD, Wes REED, Don WHITNEY, Art BAILEY, Lon
EDMO...(?), Ray MOULTON, Wm. H. REVOIR, Lloyd W. GOOD..N(?),> Lee UPTON,
Lenny MALSER, Harold R. MOULTON, Bryon J. ZIEGLER, Kathy SCANLON, Daniel
P. BERNHEIM, Arthur J. DUPREE, Sr.
Here are two letters from Don Whitney that were sent to Tim Tillyer when he researched the Internet article on his grandfather "DOC":
Don Whitney's Sept 9, 1997 letter to Tim Tillyer on Doc & Dr. Estelle Glancy
Don Whitney's Sept 19 letter to Tim Tillyer on Doc
AO Tillyer Promotions - Submitted by Tim Tillyer
http://www.geocities.com/mkmoo/AO/items/Tillyeritems.htm
Dr. Estelle
GlancyRev March 3, 2008
Dr. Glancy was a mathematician worked closely with Doc Tillyer on numerous
AO lens designs, and was responsible for performing the many complex mathematical
calculations involved in ophthalmic optics. Shown below is evidence of
her working with Doc date back in 1921, where Dr. Tillyer has signed off
his approval Dr. Glancy's calculations.
For years, she and Doc Tillyer worked together on complex lens calculations and designs. Click here for more on Dr. Glancy.
John
K. Davis - In memory of
John Davis worked at AO from 1938 thru 1976. He assume Dr. Glancy's
responsibilites in the area of lens design at AO, when she retired in 1948.
John hired my Father Donald Whitney (see below). John retired from AO in
1975, and later worked at Gentex Optics from the late 1970s until
the end of 2000. John is a world famous lens design and Industry Standards
expert. Click here for a recent photo taken
at the June 12 Reunion at Roms (John is standing).
In the 1961 photo above, Doc Tillyer and Dr. Estelle Glancy are
shaking hands and John Davis is wearing the bowtie.
An unusual photo includes 3 AO Lens designers (Center - John Davis,
Second from right - Henry Fernald, Right - Don Whitney)
Photo courtesy of John Davis ~ 1950
Also pictured Marcel Benjamin (L) and Allen Jewell
Henry Fernald
Henry was a mathematician, who performed laborious ray tracing and
other lens calculations. While today, a computer takes seconds to do this
work, I know it took days to do such a calculations. Henry and my father
Don Whitney worked together making similar calculations in order to error
check such difficult calculations. I have a number of books of Henry's,
where these calculations can be seen. As a result, Henry became a
family friend, and I recall his visits to our house.
Don Whitney
Don Whitney joined American Optical in 1947 as an apprentice in Lens
Design. Click here to read about his recollections
of that period. Don later managed the AOLITE
plastic lens casting operation, and was responsible for the design
of the Fulvue Cataract aspheric Lens. He "retired from AO in 1983, but
worked from then until 1993 consulting for AO. During that period, I had
the unique experience of working with Don (my father) on lens design issues.
Don Whitney's 1998 Obitituary in Vision Monday.
To see a rare photo of John Davis (center), Henry Fernald (right
of center) and Don Whitney (right), click
here. This photo was provided courtesy of John Davis and was a social
gathering in around 1950. Also pictured are Marcel Benjamin and Alan Jewell,
and all were AO Employees at that time.
Click here for a collection of Technical Papers by Don Whitney on ophthalmic optics- Rev 12-Mar-08
ISO TC172 1979 Deliberations (Don Whitney L and Tom Loomis R)
ISO TC172 1979 Deliberations (Dave Lamarre)-
Don, Dave and Tom represented the US
1979 - Dick Whitney (L) and Dave LaMarre (R)
During the 1980's, I worked closely with Dave on a number of ophthalmic and military lens designs, as well as on Standards issues. During that late 1980's, Dave, Don and I worked on design software for aspheric lens surfaces. Dave also designed a number of specialized military polycarbonate lens designs. One included a 20 Diopter curve plano and Rx polycarbonate gas mask lens for Apache Helicopter pilots. Looking at these today, they certainly were an achievement!
Dr. John Winthrop
Dr. Winthrop joined American Optical in 1967, and has designed all
of AO's Progressive lenses. His latest AO b'Active lens was recently released,
and he continues to work on new lens designs. His Progressive lens design
achievements include a very impressive list of highly
successful Progressive lenses:
Ultravue
Truvision
Truvision OMNI
Truvision Technica (Task specific computer lens)
AO Pro 15
AO Pro 16
AO Force 55
AO Compact
AO b' Active
AO Pro Easy
Compact Ultra
John Winthrop Meeting room door- Fougeres,France
Richard Whitney
