The Status of Lens Making in America

W. B. Rayton

When the modern optical industry was born, this country was predominantly agricultural. Its principal industrial developments related to transportation. It was natural, therefore, that Europe should have gained great prestige in the field of optics in the final quarter of the nineteenth century. — With the turn of the century, however, agricultural developments had about reached their limit and industrial activity began to occupy a larger place in American life. Along with others the optical industry felt the incentive to greater activity and the first fifteen years of this century saw a rapid advance in the magnitude of the industry and improvement in the quality of its product. — We are still, however, completely dependent on European sources of supply for our optical glass and for some of the small-demand class of laboratory instruments. Then came the war that not only cut of all aid from Europe but ultimately led Europe to our doors with appeals for optical munitions. — The war only hastened what would have been inevitable anyway, viz., the complete independence of America in optical matters. — The American optical industry has now reached a point where its raw materials (optical glass) and its technical skill recognize no superiors. It can make any practical optical element or instrument for which quantitative specifications can be written.

Print ISSN
Published
1939-10
Content type
Original Research
DOI
10.5594/J11944