American Optical Company
1833-present
American Optical Company had its roots in a workshop that made silver spectacle frames, which was established in 1833 by William Beecher in Southbridge, Massachusetts. The company was known for eye glasses and all sorts of opthamological products.
Chronology of Business Names:
1833-1840 William Beecher
1840-1842 Ammidown & Putney
1842-1849 Ammidown & Son
1850-1859 Ammidown & Company
1860-1862 Beecher & Cole
1862-1869 Robert H. Cole & Company
1869-1982 American Optical Company
1982 AO Scientific Instruments
Spencer Lens Company of Buffalo, New York became part of the American Optical Company in 1935. For several years after the acquisition, the Spencer Lens Company continued operation under its own name before becoming known as the Scientific Instrument Division of American Optical Company in 1945.
Notable American Optical work includes the development of ophthalmic optics, safety eyewear, medical devices, and scientific instruments.
Chronology of Business Names:
1833-1840 William Beecher
1840-1842 Ammidown & Putney
1842-1849 Ammidown & Son
1850-1859 Ammidown & Company
1860-1862 Beecher & Cole
1862-1869 Robert H. Cole & Company
1869-1982 American Optical Company
1982 AO Scientific Instruments
Spencer Lens Company of Buffalo, New York became part of the American Optical Company in 1935. For several years after the acquisition, the Spencer Lens Company continued operation under its own name before becoming known as the Scientific Instrument Division of American Optical Company in 1945.
Notable American Optical work includes the development of ophthalmic optics, safety eyewear, medical devices, and scientific instruments.
A website devoted to the history of AO has been set up by Dick Whitney, the curator of the Optical Heritage Museum, Inc., which does not currently have a permanent home in Southbridge, Massachusetts. It is <a href="http://www.dickwhitney.net/RBWAOHistoryIndex.html" target="_blank">here</a>.