Oliver Goldsmith Eyewear (5)

Inside the Oliver Goldsmith workshop

1. Inside the Oliver Goldsmith workshop in 1966

Pattern maker Ron Saich selecting the material

Pattern maker Ron Saich selecting the material
2. Inside the Oliver Goldsmith workshop in 1966

Using a sharp/pointed metal scribe, pattern maker Ron Saich scribes the frame shape onto the plastic

Using a sharp/pointed metal scribe, pattern maker Ron Saich scribes the frame shape onto the plastic
3. Inside the Oliver Goldsmith workshop in 1966

Using a fret saw, Ron Saich drills two holes and then cuts out the eye shapes; he will then cut around the outside of the frame shape

Using a fret saw, Ron Saich drills two holes and then cuts out the eye shapes; he will then cut around the outside of the frame shape
4. Inside the Oliver Goldsmith workshop in 1966

Ron checks the measurements

Ron checks the measurements
5. Inside the Oliver Goldsmith workshop in 1966

Another frame maker shapes the front of the frame with a scraping knife

Another frame maker shapes the front of the frame with a scraping knife
6. Inside the Oliver Goldsmith workshop in 1966

Warming the front on a hot air heater

Warming the front on a hot air heater allows the frame maker to 'bump the bridge' into shape; which means creating the space to accommodate the nose, thus making it more comfortable to wear
7. Inside the Oliver Goldsmith workshop in 1966

Filing the front into shape

Filing the front into shape
8. Inside the Oliver Goldsmith workshop in 1966

Sanding the frame to get rid of the filing marks

Sanding the frame to get rid of the filing marks
9. Inside the Oliver Goldsmith workshop in 1966

Checking that the eye size is correct

Checking that the eye size is correct
10. Inside the Oliver Goldsmith workshop in 1966

Fitting the front half joints by heating the tool and using it to push the metal hinge into the front

Fitting the front half joints by heating the tool and using it to push the metal hinge into the front
11. Inside the Oliver Goldsmith workshop in 1966

Frame maker and workshop manager, Tom Eley, fits the half joints into the sides

Frame maker and workshop manager, Tom Eley, fits the half joints into the sides. The photograph shows a work bench full of orders waiting to be processed. Each order had its own cardboard tay with a works docket containing the order details.
12. Inside the Oliver Goldsmith workshop in 1966

Frame maker at the hard polishing mop machine removing filing scratch marks

Frame maker at the hard polishing mop machine removing filing scratch marks
13. Inside the Oliver Goldsmith workshop in 1966

Polishing at the soft polishing mop machine to remove all final scratches

Polishing at the soft polishing mop machine to remove all final scratches
14. Inside the Oliver Goldsmith workshop in 1966

Checking that the sides are parallel.

Checking that the sides are parallel. In this process the frame maker would heat the frame over the Bunsen burner to warm the frame and make it more pliable to allow for small adjustments. After making these adjustments, the frame maker would pluge the frame into cold water after adjusting it to the correct fit. The photograph shows a bucket of cold water on the left. On the workbench you can see many tools such as pliers, files and joint screws (in the small box).
15. Inside the Oliver Goldsmith workshop in 1966

A view of the top floor workshop at 60 Poland Street, showing the frame makers at work

A view of the top floor workshop at 60 Poland Street, showing the frame makers at work. To the left is racking stacked with the plastics used for frames. Fans helped cool the workshop when the Bunsen burners and hot air heaters were in used. At this time, Oliver Goldsmith employed around ten frame makers in the workshop. Oliver Goldsmith's frame makers were usually employed for decades; many of them worked for the company for between 20 and 30 years.
16. Inside the Oliver Goldsmith workshop in 1966

Oliver Goldsmith's workshop with orders waiting to be processed

Oliver Goldsmith's workshop with orders waiting to be processed