The Optical Heritage Museum

Dick Whitney – Curator & President

http://www.opticalheritagemuseum.orghttp://www.dickwhitney.net

The Museum 1983-2000

Ruth Wells and John Young before the 1983 Museum Opens

Ruth Wells and the Wells family (AO) founded OSV. Albert and JC Wells instrumental. The Wells Antique Collection was at the Wells building at 171 Main Street – Southbridge. A Living Museum was decided and Quinebaug Village formed in 1938.

The Museum was located there from 1983- 2000 (the last ~10 years by Appt Only)

MISSION STATEMENT FOR THE OPTICAL HERITAGE MUSEUM – Sept 2004

"The Optical Heritage Museum is dedicated to the education and enrichment of the general public in the history, growth and contributions of ‘The Eye of the Commonwealth ‘ -Southbridge, MA. This will be accomplished through continuing efforts to collect, maintain, preserve and display cultural, social and industrial artifacts, along with written documentation and oral accounts."

The OHM Board Optical Heritage Museum, Inc. Board Members: President and Curator- Dick Whitney Vice President - Margaret Morrissey Treasurer - Dave Butler Secretary - Gary Bridgman Board of Directors Chair – Dave Cunniffe

Southbridge Downtown Partnership subcommittee on the Museum:

Bruce Hynes, Johnathan and Lisa Krach, Margaret Morrissey, Maureen Prokos, Harvey Shanbaum & Dick Whitney

George W. Wells and Daniel S. Wells (1890’s and today)

Recent Displays – Jacob Edwards Library

Restoration of AO Negatives underway. Shown here – AO Americanization class

Norman Rockwell / AO Art

The Birthplace of AO -1833

The Birth of AO William Beecher starts a jewelry

and watch shop on the corner of main and central streets in 1826.

AO’s birth in 1833, when Beecher makes silver spectacle frames on the second floor above the jewelry shop.

AO Birthplace –Corner of Main & Central St.

AO – The Early Years

This building was located at Save More Gas Station near Rotary (Corner of Main And Chestnut)

FIRST Building (Model in Museum)

The Arts Center and Chestnut st in old AO Location in 1892

Factory – 1872

AO Main Plant by1892 – All Wood

American Optical Main Plant 1888

WorkersIn front ofbuilding

1888

AO Complex - 1892

Why AO first Made Lenses

Originally Imported lenses from Europe

1888 Import Tarriffs were adopted Huge Celebration in Southbridge

on Nov 15, 1888. Fireworks

George Wells

1864- Arrives in Southbridge at the age of 17 with $100 in his pocket.

1864- George and brother Hiram hired by R.H.Cole and then fired.

1865 – George Wells rehired by RH Cole. 1869 – George Wells offered

partnership. 1891- Cole retires, George Wells Pres.

George Wells

Wells Family George’s Sons: Channing, Albert,

Joel Albert’s Son: George B. Wells (last

Wells President of AO) marries Ruth Adams Dyer; Ruth was instrumental in founding Old Sturbridge Village

AO & Ophthalmic Optics

AO Ophthalmic Lens “Firsts” Tillyer Corrected Curve Series Minus Toric Series Implementation of Franklin Style

Executive Bifocal First Plastic Photochromic Lens Permalite Abrasion Resistant coating AO Compact Small Frame PAL

AO Safety Products Firsts First Safety Goggle First Heat Tempered Glass Lens

(added impact resistance lens strength)

Invented Calobar and Cruxite Fulvue Frame (first with temples

attached at the top) Executive Safety lens

AO Instrument Firsts Include: The LENSOMETER Additive Phoroptor Additive Trial Sets Non Contact Tonometer (1972) Cardiac difibrillator Demand pacemaker Solid State Laser

The AO Lensometer

Todd – AO

Wide Screen Projection

AO and Fiber Optics Early 1953 Dr. Brian O’Brien joins AO

(Todd-AO his top priority) Sept 1954- AO / CIA hires Will Hicks

Mid –1957 Image Scrambler Project ends after Hicks tells CIA code easy to break

1958 – Hicks leaves AO and Forms Mosaic Fabrications in Sturbridge

1960 – Hicks / Eli Snitzer (AO): single mode wavelength patent

American Optical Main Plant – Late 1890’s (prior to clock tower)

AO in 1908 Postcard

Main Plant- Unusual View

In the Main Plant (1920’s?)

AO Offices in 1925

The AO Complex – MP Side of River prior to demolition

AO Main Plant Demolition (2000)

The Demolition and Construction of AO Main Plant

The Southbridge Hotel and Conf. Center

AO From the Air - ~1965

“Recent” AO History (Ownership) 1949 Wells family sells interests in

AO 1967 Warner Lambert Buys AO 1982 M& R Purchase AO from WL,

divests Soft Contact Lens (1984), Safety (1990), AO Lens (1996)

AO Businesses still on Southbridge 1996 SOLA buys AO Lens Co.

The People of AO

Women played a key role

AO Women Workers in 1919

AO - 1972

AO Gathering in Mexico From Around the World – 1999

AO Postcard (1960’s)

Companies formerly a part of AO still in Southbridge AO Lens Company Now Carl Zeiss

Vision Aearo (formerly AO Safety) AO Sunwear (moved to Dudley line) Schott Fiber Optics

Franklin Realty (Grounds / Powerhouse)

Glass Executive Lens manufactured in Building 50

Other Companies on the Complex in Southbridge Aramark SAIC Stonebridge Press Semicon Bay Path College