TERCENTENARY OF SPECTACLE MAKERS

Shannon News, 5 July 1929, Page 1

TERCENTENARY OF SPECTACLE MAKERS

Penalties for Bad Opticians AUTOCRATIC POWERS UNDER OLD CHARTER This year opticians are celebrating the■ tercentenary of their oldest craft guild, the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers, whose records are among the most interesting of the ancient City Guilds .of London. Its charter was granted in 1629 by Charles I.) "for the better 1 order, rule and government of those usingWhe Art or Mystry of Spectacle Malting." Bowers . which now. appear unusually drastic and autocratic.wer,e then vested in the Court. Search.could be made of persons engaged in the trade of . spectacle,making and selling, in order to find "deceitful or counterfeit wares . ...whether made in this country or beyond the seas." The assistance of all mayors, justices of the peace) shei iffs, bailiffs, constables, and other officers could be : enlistod if. necessary. It was not lawful for a spectacle maker having no apprentice, to possess at one time, more than 30 pairs of. spectacles on his premises, Scarcity of Glass. .How valuable . a commodity glass niu4t have been three centuries ago is revealed in a by-law which ordered that: 'None to buy glass. . . till it is first brought to a place to bo appointed where it may be converted to the use of the whole company, except it be in a' small quantity to fit six pairs of spectacles.'' Ko spectacles could be bought or sold unless previously sihown to, and approved by, the Master and Wardens. If . a spectacle-maker be adjudged guilty of selling imperfect spectacles, or if he sold frames without glass or vice versa, the truly staggering fine of £4O-could be inflicted. "Any "bad or deceitful wares" found'could'be T.c-stioyedj-a process usually executed by publicly sta-mping the faulty wares to powder on London pavements. The trade "or mystry" of spectacle making was jealously guarded. Entry to it was by way of a seven years' apprenticeship, followed by two years as a "journeyman." Before becoming a master workman, the candidate was required to exhibit his work to the 'M-.i3ter. The Trade To-day. The Company as it exists to-day in 'mainly concerned with examinations for opticians and the issuing of diplomas. • Its ancient powers have never been revoked and, presumably, still exist. But the Master and his Wardens do not sally forth on dark nights in search of "bad or deceitful wares." Unfortunately for optical historians —and few histories are so packed with romance as that of optics—the 3reat Tire of London consumed not only the hall of the Company, but its movable property, title deeds, and minute.books. The hall has never been replaced, and the.minute books now in existence date back only to 1666. Sir Osborn. Holm- ' den is the present Master and the headquarters are in Temple avenue.