Template
1960-1985 (made)
| Place of origin |
Template for making child's spectacles, consisting of a block of red-brown rubber-based composition in the shape of the front of a pair of spectacles, with a lens-shaped piece of perspex screwed to each of the eyepieces and a hole drilled through the centre of each. During the process of making a pair of NHS spectacles, once the inner eyepiece holes had been cut in a sheet of cellulose acetate (using a template like B.314-1996), this second template was put down on the sheet and the perspex shapes fitted into the eyepiece holes for an exact match, so that the exterior of the frame front could be cut tracing the outlines (B.316 - 1996 was used at a subsequent stage).
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Perspex and rubber-based composition with metal screws |
| Brief description | template for making child's spectacles; British, 1960-85 |
| Physical description | Template for making child's spectacles, consisting of a block of red-brown rubber-based composition in the shape of the front of a pair of spectacles, with a lens-shaped piece of perspex screwed to each of the eyepieces and a hole drilled through the centre of each. During the process of making a pair of NHS spectacles, once the inner eyepiece holes had been cut in a sheet of cellulose acetate (using a template like B.314-1996), this second template was put down on the sheet and the perspex shapes fitted into the eyepiece holes for an exact match, so that the exterior of the frame front could be cut tracing the outlines (B.316 - 1996 was used at a subsequent stage). |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | 46 68 |
| Object history | References: The donor in his letter states that children's NHS spectacles "were produced on the most simple of machinery...they were made by many British manufacturers to the ministries (sic) general specification [and] each licensed manufacturer would mark the frame with his four letter code..." Acquired by the donor during his career as a dispensing optician with R W H Clements, 1 Portland Road, South Norwood, London SE25 4UG. The NHS scheme whereby children were given free spectacles lasted from 1946 to 1988, when it was phased out in favour of vouchers. |
| Production | Made by: National Health Service |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | B.315-1996 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | April 19, 2000 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
