The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-21
GREAT STRIDES ARE BEING MADE
NOW IN THE OPTICAL BUSINESS
Spectacles Have Been Worn
From the Time of the Old
Prophets, and Benjamin
Franklin Helped to Bring
the Habit Up to Date
RICHMONDERS HELPING
PUSH TO COMPLETION

The optical business in Virginia, and
particularly in Richmond. has reach
ed high state of perfection. Per-
haps no other business has grown so
rapidly, and 1t is likely that strides
along the lines of perfection in this
have outrun those of many other bust
nesses and professions.
While the use of spectacles can be
traced back several hundred years,
| IL was not until about forty years ago
that the most common optical defect
was discovered. viz: astigmatism. The
lenses In use before that time were
simply to correct far and near sight
convex and concave lenses.
With the discovery of astigmatism,
however. it became necessary TO grind
what Is known as cylif drical lenses to
correct this defect. The first machines
, invented were crude and cumbersome
but with the passing OF the years, new
machines have been patented and i'm
provements constantly made. until
now no optical workshop Is complete
without machinery to grind the most
complicated lenses. Toric lenses, the
deep curve kind, which are ground tc
conform to the shape OF the cornes
of the eye. giving the widest field OF
vision. are a comparatively recent
| improvement.
Benjamin Franklin found the need
of distance as well as reading
glass and he was the inventor of the
double or bifocal lens. Within the
past few years. however. by patented
fusing process two lenses have beer
melted or fused into one. givina
bifocaIs without the many disad'
vantages of the Franklin kind. This is
/ known as the kryptok lens
Business on High Plane.
Through constant study and appli-
cation, the optical business has been
placed on very high plane. and q
better understanding brought about
/ between the oculist and the optician
1t was customary several years age
! for the oculist to order glasses from
the large wholesale houses. and fl
and deliver these. direct to his patients
This Is now a thing of the past, the
better class of opticians specializing
more particularly in the mechanical
branch of the business. enabling them
/ to fill prescriptions and to adjust
frames and nosepieces accurately
thus affording eyeglass wearers q
greater degree of satisfaction, and
giving the oculist free reign to pursue
his profession. divorcing him entirely
: from the mechanical end of the bust
ness This has been one of the great.
est strides of progress, working to the
advantage OF the oculist and public
alike. w.
About sixteen years ago. Mr.. G. l.
+. Hall and his associates. afl of whom
E! has years OF experience In the optica
! business. opened a small esta blish
ment in Norfolk. under the name N
! Tucker, Hall & Co. BY conscientiou:
| application to business, they made tbs
name stand for all tina: was best ir
eyegla sses and spectacIes Throughout
! the whole OF Eastern Virginia ant
North Carolina.
Constant Progress IL Made.
! In 1910, II became necessary will
the opening of the Richmond estnh
+ lishment. TO incorporate, under tn
name of the G. l.. Hall Optical Co
! Progress in every department has beer
the constant aim. and notwithstand
| ing the fact that the store at eli Eas
Broad Street was one of the hand
soonest optical places In Virginia, ex
tensive improvements have been mad
and no expense has been spared I,
give the people of Richmond aut
vicinity the most completely equipped
and thoroughly efficient as well as sht
handsomest optical and kodak store ir
the South.
Every one of the three stores ha,
( lis RFltiuluN pant TO- iiiS atNuI ase
and prompt grinding OF lenses, the
satisfactory handling of the most diff.
! hcult prescriptions. By their clean
business-like methods the confidence
! and respect of the oculists and public
have been gained. and since the In
stitution of the present business
glasses have been made for over tive
hundred thousand satisfied patrons.
Celebrate Anniversary.
| Realizing the immense possibilitie.
! in the kodak business, this has beer
made a separate department in each
store. with fully equipped finishing
plants where from three to ten thou
sand pictures are turned out daily
| Hall Quality" has become a synonym
with amateur kodakers for the mos
satisfactory kodak work obtainable.
To commemorate the sixth annfver
sary in Richmond. tomorrow will b
| ''open-house" at al East Broat
Street. when all the patrons and well
wishers will be welcomed and pre-
scented with n little souvenir Of thu
occasion. Preparedness being the
slogan OF this progressive house. one
of the souvenirs will be In keepins
with the spirit OF the times. and every
visitor is requested to ask for one.