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

AO 1933 Emblem with George Wells for the 100th Anniversary

View Historical Listings / Timelines in American Optical's History-
Rev 15-Jun-09

AO History Chronology Slideshow -
8mb Download of executable

Product Firsts at AO

AO's Lensometer - a ground breaking invention for Ophthalmic Optics Rev June 13, 2009

May 2009 Lensometer Display (courtesy of the Optical Heritage Museum)
at the Southbridge Hotel and Conference Center

Download April 1940 AO Vision Magazine (32mb pdf)
 

AO History as described in 1933 Document

Brochure from ~1960 titled "This is AO"

American Flags at AO

American Optical logos' through the years

AO Management Photo by the Main Plant - ~late 1920's early 1930s
Donated by Jim Alden
 

AO Reunion Luncheons
Second Tuesday in June and Dec-
Next one is Tues. Dec 8th, 2009 at 12 Crane St in Southbridge

The People of AO

William Beecher -
The founder of AO in 1833

In Memory Of:
Recalling those AO employees who have passed on - July 3, 2009

Recollections of Former AO Employees Rev June 19, 2009
Check back for update soon - Stories are welcome!

AO "Then and Now"
 
 

Info on Future AO Sculpture
 

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

AO Ophthalmic History

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

How and why AO First made spectacle lenses in mass in 1888

 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
 

Dr Estelle Glancy in her own words! - AO and Evolution of a Lens Designer
Courtesy of Wellesley College

AO Low Vision Aids

Don Whitney and Ophthalmic Optics  Rev May 5, 2009

Dick Whitney and Ophthalmic Optics

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

AO / Polarized lenses

Todd-AO-
50th Anniversary celebrated 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

Clarifying when AO closed in Southbridge

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

March 12. 2009 photos of the Former AO Main Plant, now the Southbridge Hotel and Conference center.
November 1945 AO News Article about "Steeple Tom"
Dick Whitney photos

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

Ophthalmic Industry Heritage Info

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

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
 

AO Wellsworth Workers "Americanization" Education  - April 1926
 

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

The June 1983 AO Parade - celebrating 150 years!!
 
 

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
 

"AO Room"
at UC Berkeley School of Optometry

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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