Title: Contributions to the history of the worshipful company of spectaclemakers
Abstract: The Worshipful Company of Spectaclemakers in London seems to have been originally modelled after the very old optical centre in the Netherlands. In this way some similarities between the rules in London and in Nürnberg are most easily explained. The principal object of the old guilds was - as it seems to us - to enforce absolute equality of all the members; Master and Wardens had great power, and we have ample evidence of the fact that such rules were strictly enforced in London also. The splendid trade opportunities of the metropolis, especially for more elaborate optical instruments, and the connexion with some of the learned members of the Royal Society, tended gradually to promote the glass grinder to master optician. Some interesting details as to the opticians' signs and to the present coat-of-arms of the Company are given. The continuation of old rules, and the different ways of obtaining the Company's freedom, could hardly raise its status, but, by means of individual enterprise and ability, many members made themselves famous as master opticians. They opposed P. Dollond's aspirations quite unanimously, although ineffectually. If we compare the development of the old Guilds on the Continent and in London, we see how necessary it was to do away with the antiquated rules - deduced as above - of upholding absolute equality for all members.
Publication Year: 1930
Publication Date: 1930-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 3
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot