American Optical History
Safety Products

American Optical's contributions in the field of Safety products include:

        *  First Safety Goggle
        *  First Heat Tempered Glass Lens (added impact resistance lens strength)
        *  Invented Calobar and Cruxite absorbtive glass
        *  Fulvue Frame (first with temples attached at the top)
        *  Executive Bifocal Safety lens

1925 Catalogue

 

AO's Byron Zeigler, who later started Omintech which became Gentex is shown in a 1944 Cover feature on Scientific American

1948 Sunglasses

Dave LaMarre / Wes Reed Article on AO Sunglass History (1975)

Example Spectral Transmission Curves of the Eye compared with Glass types - 1948