Opera Glasses " High Fashion, Spyglass Or Optical Instrument?
Friday, 25 December 2009 08:38 | 
Author: Jeff Bridges |
If it wasn't for the Dutch optician Hans Lipperhey, we might not have had either binoculars or opera glasses today. He first started manufacturing simple binoculars in 1608. These were not much more than two telescopes connected by a central bridge, but they led to many further modifications and improvements. His early binoculars had a magnification capability of x3. Within less than a year the Italian mathematician and inventor Galileo Galilee made another drastic stride forward by increasing the magnification ability of telescopes to x30.
If it wasn't for the Dutch optician Hans Lipperhey, we might not have had either binoculars or opera glasses today. He first started manufacturing simple binoculars in 1608. These were not much more than two telescopes connected by a central bridge, but they led to many further modifications and improvements. His early binoculars had a magnification capability of x3. Within less than a year the Italian mathematician and inventor Galileo Galilee made another drastic stride forward by increasing the magnification ability of telescopes to x30.
Binoculars gave a much wider field of view than telescopes, but since they had 2 convex lenses, the picture that you saw was inverted. It wasn't until 1617 that Anton Schyrle added an additional lens to re-invert the image. In 1758 John Dollond of England invented the achromatic (color free) lens and thereby solved the problem of color distortion.
One of the final important developments in binocular technology happened when the Italian gunnery officer Ignazio Porro invented prismatic binoculars, thereby once again increasing the field of vision dramatically and making much larger magnification possible.
Opera glasses are mentioned for the first time in London newspaper advertisements dating back to 1730. These were not binoculars, but small Galilean telescopes. They were both used decoratively and to watch opera with. The bodies were often inlaid with gems, mother of pearl, ivory, enamel and other types of decorations.
Binocular-type opera glasses made their appearance for the first time during the '20s in Vienna. These early types were basically still only two small telescopes with a connecting bridge. The individual telescopes had to be focused by pulling out the tubes.
They proved to be very popular, however, and quickly became items of high fashion. The designs were so elaborate that one often would find both a painter and a goldsmith working on the end product. They were used as much to impress people as to watch opera - not to mention scrutinizing other opera goers to see if their opera glasses were perhaps more fashionable than yours!
The design soon improved to allow for the simultaneous adjustment of both lenses. This was another major step forward and only served to increase the popularity of this type of glasses. They also became highly valued gifts - as one can see from the inscriptions found on many opera glasses of the time.
The variety of opera glasses available at present is very large. You still get monoculars, which are considered to be very stylish. You also get glasses with built-in reading lights and others with handles. You can even get one with a built-in jealousy glass - enabling you to discreetly watch someone in the audience without being noticed.!
If it wasn't for the Dutch optician Hans Lipperhey, we might not have had either binoculars or opera glasses today. He first started manufacturing simple binoculars in 1608. These were not much more than two telescopes connected by a central bridge, but they led to many further modifications and improvements. His early binoculars had a magnification capability of x3. Within less than a year the Italian mathematician and inventor Galileo Galilee made another drastic stride forward by increasing the magnification ability of telescopes to x30.
Binoculars gave a much wider field of view than telescopes, but since they had 2 convex lenses, the picture that you saw was inverted. It wasn't until 1617 that Anton Schyrle added an additional lens to re-invert the image. In 1758 John Dollond of England invented the achromatic (color free) lens and thereby solved the problem of color distortion.
One of the final important developments in binocular technology happened when the Italian gunnery officer Ignazio Porro invented prismatic binoculars, thereby once again increasing the field of vision dramatically and making much larger magnification possible.
Opera glasses are mentioned for the first time in London newspaper advertisements dating back to 1730. These were not binoculars, but small Galilean telescopes. They were both used decoratively and to watch opera with. The bodies were often inlaid with gems, mother of pearl, ivory, enamel and other types of decorations.
Binocular-type opera glasses made their appearance for the first time during the '20s in Vienna. These early types were basically still only two small telescopes with a connecting bridge. The individual telescopes had to be focused by pulling out the tubes.
They proved to be very popular, however, and quickly became items of high fashion. The designs were so elaborate that one often would find both a painter and a goldsmith working on the end product. They were used as much to impress people as to watch opera - not to mention scrutinizing other opera goers to see if their opera glasses were perhaps more fashionable than yours!
The design soon improved to allow for the simultaneous adjustment of both lenses. This was another major step forward and only served to increase the popularity of this type of glasses. They also became highly valued gifts - as one can see from the inscriptions found on many opera glasses of the time.
The variety of opera glasses available at present is very large. You still get monoculars, which are considered to be very stylish. You also get glasses with built-in reading lights and others with handles. You can even get one with a built-in jealousy glass - enabling you to discreetly watch someone in the audience without being noticed.!
About the Author:
Before you attend any performance make sure that you have a good pair of opera glasses. Here you can check out Opera Glasses with handle, flashlight, chain and more!
