Pink coil spring spectacles, National Health Service issue, 1955-1969

Made:
1955-1969 in United Kingdom
Pair of coil spring spectacle framess, pink plastic Pair of coil spring spectacle framess, pink plastic Coil spring spectacles, pink plastic

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

Buy this image as a print 

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

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

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

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Pair of coil spring spectacle framess, pink plastic
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Pair of coil spring spectacle framess, pink plastic
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Coil spring spectacles, pink plastic
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Pair of coil spring spectacle framess, pink plastic, National Health Service issue, unsigned, British, 1955-1969.

Mass produced spectacles were available in the UK in the 1950s and 1960s through the National Health Service (NHS). These frames are a typical example. The coil springs secured the frames when the arms hooked behind the ears.

NHS spectacles showed little imagination in terms of design flair. They were made cheaply for robust use and utility rather than fashion. The National Health Act in July 1948 made spectacles free for all. This proved expensive. By 1951, patients paid half the costs towards spectacles. However, eye tests were still free of charge.

Details

Category:
Ophthalmology
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A681246
Materials:
plastic, copper (alloy) and complete
Measurements:
overall (closed): 30 mm x 127 mm x 55 mm,
overall (open): 40 mm x 127 mm x 105 mm, Wt. 0.01kg
type:
spectacle frames
credit:
C Davis Keeler Limited