'The Ocular Developer', sight testing and sight improving apparatus, Birmingham, England, 1930-1933

Made:
1930-1933 in Birmingham
maker:
Ocular Apparatus Company
Sight-testing and developing apparatus, "The Ocular Developer" Sight-testing and developing apparatus, "The Ocular Developer"

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Sight-testing and developing apparatus, "The Ocular Developer"
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Sight-testing and developing apparatus, "The Ocular Developer"
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Sight-testing and developing apparatus, "The Ocular Developer", Home Model, invented by R. Brooks Simpkins, with case, made by The Ocular Apparataus Co., Birmingham, 1930-1933, Guildhall Buildings, Navigation Street

Invented by Robert Brooks Simpkins in the 1930s, ‘The Ocular Developer’ is an unusual device which promised to cure long sightedness, short sightedness, astigmatisms, old-age sight and squints. The Ocular Sight Company, who manufactured the apparatus, claimed each condition was caused by lazy or irregular movements of the eye muscles and could be cured by re-training these muscles.

This picture shows the set up of the equipment to treat long and short sight by exercising the eye muscles. If the user could see the test plate clearly at 16 inches (40.6 cm), then he or she was deemed to have perfect vision. If the plate had to be moved closer, then the user had long sight; further away, and he or she must be short sighted. This model cost £8 19 shillings and 6 pence. ‘The Ocular Developer’ could, it was hoped, render glasses useless, removing the need for trips to the optician. It was also claimed to help in the treatment of cataracts and glaucoma. In this it clearly failed.

Details

Category:
Ophthalmology
Object Number:
1982-1772
Materials:
metal, wood, velvet and brass
Measurements:
overall: 106 mm x 514 mm x 362 mm, 4.38kg
type:
sight testing apparatus
credit:
Gable, J.