http://www.dickwhitney.net/RBWAOHistoryIndex.html

View Historical Listings / Timelines in American Optical's History-
Rev 17-Mar-08

AO History Chronology Slideshow -
8mb Download of executable

Product Firsts at AO

AO History as described in 1933 Document

American Flags at AO

American Optical logos' through the years

In Memory Of:
Recalling those AO employees who have passed on - May 5, 2008

Recollections of Former AO Employees
Check back for update soon - Stories are welcome!

"AO Room"
at UC Berkeley School of Optometry
 

The "AO" Optical Heritage Museum

The "Universalist Church" Building at
368 Main St., Southbridge

Optical Heritage Museum slideshow
5mb Download of executable New 04-Apr-06
Click on screen to advance slide

A view of American Optical Southbride Complex(top) taken from Notre Dame Church (~1916)
Image from JEL digital Treasures:
CWMars on-line digital Library

Check out Mass Moments Look back at AO's 150th (June 18, 1983)

The June 1983 AO Parade - celebrating 150 years!!

AO Ophthalmic History

AO's 1921 Article titled "The story in a pair of Spectacles"
(3.5 mb pdf download)

 AO's Ophthalmic Lens Designers
Dr. Tillyer, Dr. Estelle Glancy and more!

Order Newly Published limited edition hardbound book by Tim Tillyer -
Titled "Doc- A Biography of Edgar Derry Tillyer"
email Tim for Details

"Doc" Tillyer Article in Nov 04 Optics and Photonics News -

March is Womens History Month!
Dr Estelle Glancy in her own words! - AO and Evolution of a Lens Designer
Courtesy of Wellesley College

AO Low Vision Aids - Rev 12-Mar-08

Don Whitney and Ophthalmic Optics- Rev 12-Mar-08

Glass Executive Manufacturing prior to Southbridge Closure
Longest running ophthalmic product line in AO's history

AO's Photolite lens - Worlds first plastic photochromic lens

Todd-AO-
50th Anniversary was in 2005

Fiber Optics
Learn about AO / Fiber Optics
in Jeff Hecht's book "City of Light"

AO Scientific Instruments

AO  Clock - Time set in 1916 synchronized by Radio
 

AO Safety

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

Ear Protection Boston Herald article - April 1962

AO & Lens Impact Strength

AO Monoplex Plastic Eye Division 1949 Brochure

1971 AO Product Directory Catalogue

Pope Pius XII and his gift - AO Glasses in early 1950s

AO Paintings

AO Main Plant Demolition ("DOD Project" /
Southbridge Hotel and Conference Center) Construction

Southbridge Hotel and Conference Center - Former AO Main Plant
 

AO Main Plant History

A rare view of the AO Main Plant (Left - new brick construction, Right Old wood building) ~1895
Image from JEL digital Treasures:
CWMars on-line digital Library

A look inside the AO Main Plant Clock Tower
 

Former AO Lens Plant "2L",
now building 50 and Power plant image from http://local.live.com/
 

AO Southbridge Facilities

October 7, 2006 Walking Weekend tour of "AO complex"

Read about the Oct  8, 2005 Walking Weekend "AO Complex" tour -
Article courtesy of the Southbridge Evening News
 

Check out the CWMars on-line digital Library
Southbridge Images courtesy of Jacob Edwards Library

AO -Photos of "Then and Now"

AO Flood's - 1938 and 1955 Destruction at Southbridge Facility
Download Audio Excerpt of WESO August 19, 1955 Broadcast taped by Robert Haynes
 

Image provided Courtesy of Walter Alan Stewart Famiily
For more info, also check out the recollections page below
 

Recollections of Former AO Employees
Stories are welcome!
 

Daniel Wells Schreck, Direct descendant of George W. Wells (Portrait)  in Southhbridge at
Wells Family Reunion - June 2004
 

In Memory Of:
Recalling those AO employees who have passed on

Past AO Reunion Luncheons at Rom's Restaurant
 

The AO Reunion of May 28, 2002

AO Reunion Group photo (Courtesty of Village Photo)
Order your AO own high resolution photo / Reunion memorabilia!!!

AO WWII 1944 Vision Article

AO News 1965 and 1966 Covers

AO Fire Department

AO Clubs

AO Frames

AO Frames Sales Force of 1947
 

AO 1933 Jon Swanson Medallion
Courtesy or Jay \Galst
 

June 2004

Don Whitney 1958 Talk
on AOLITE (AO's CR-39 plastic lenses)

The influence of CR-39 (sixty years after its introduction) - 2006 article by Dick Whitney

AOLITE Plastic Lens Casting Background (Don Whitney 1975 Writeup)

AO's Medical Department -

Family photo in front of the AO Main Plant in the Fall of 1954

AO Images of Days Gone By

The People of AO

AO Wellsworth Workers "Americanization" Education  - April 1926
 
 

Photos of AO Employees in the 1920's ?

Snapshots in Time (Past Regional Newspaper Coverage describing AO)

Excerpts / Articles of Interest from the American Optical News

Quinebaug Valley Historical Society Text (G.Wells 1909 Speeches)

AO Life Publication (1930 Excerpts)

The AOCentenial Historical Publications (1933)

125th Anniversary Articles (1958)

150th Anniversary Historical Notes (1983)
 

Learn about the underground Tunnel on the AO Complex
 

AO Postcard of Southbridge Facility at its prime- 1965 (Date Approximate)

Photo below were taken on the Stairway in the MainPlantCenter building which remains with the DOD Facility Demolition / Construction.
 

Aug 1999 photo and Jan 2002 in the newly opened Southbridge Hotel and Conference Center
 

Photos of the Fall, Winter, and Spring at AO Southbridge (1999-2000 photos)

About the Author (Dick Whitney) and his AO Background

Aknowledgements

Ocular Heritage Society

Interested in the History Antique Spectacles?

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