Search Victorian Collections

Tin glazed earthenware tile decorated with blue image of a spectacle seller. Corners decorated with ox-head motif.

Spyglasses were popular in the eighteenth and nineteenth century

Gilt brass 5 draw spyglass or small monocular telescope. Foliate and floral decoration around eyepiece, ribbed casing with suspension ring. 5 draw telescopic action extends the spyglass for use.

vision, optical devices, fashion

The power of the lens, +7.50 DS, suggests this might be a magnifying lens for near work rather than a quizzer for distance vision.

Round gold rimmed quizzer with machine engraved lens rim. Turned ornamental stem with a small engraved swivelling ring at its end for a cord or ribbon. The lens is glass of power of +7.50 DS.

Digital photograph of 1930s optometric consulting room in the Aitken Gallery of the Kett Optometry Museum. The photograph is taken looking through the door labelled 'W.E.SMITH. FVOA OPTOMETRIST AND OPTICIAN'. The detailed exhibit shows equipment, instruments and furniture typical of optometry practices in the 1930s.

This photograph shows the entrance to the newly-opened Aitken Gallery of the Kett Optometry Museum, located on the first floor of the Australian College of Optometry.

Digital photograph of the entrance of the Kett Optometry Museum's Aitken Gallery. The signage is accompanied by a display of eye baths and ointment pots

Porcelain pedestal eye bath with underglaze blue decoration of straw flower pattern. Lines of gilding around bowl rim and foot.

Traces only of gilt letters under foot which include 'M' and 'W'.

This instrument was manufactured in 1969 to a design developed in 1905. It was used in private practice in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. It was donated to the Optometry museum in August 2000. The instrument's inventor, Hjalmar August Schioetz (1850-1927) was born in Stavanger, Norway. He graduated in Medicine in 1877 in Kristiania. He studied ophthalmology in Vienna and in Paris. He was appointed professor of medicine with the obligation of teaching eye medicine in Kristiania in 1901. He demonstrated his tonometer in 1905 and for the next half century it was generally accepted as a reliable means of measuring intraocular pressure.

Many examples of Schiotz tonometers can be found in near-mint condition as they were superseded in the latter half of the twentieth century. Although this example is in fine condition it is not historically significant

Cased stainless steel instrument to measure intra-ocular pressure. Grey leatherette case lined with grey satin and felt. Case contains stainless steel spring balance tonometer, convex test block and two calibration weights. Slipped within upper lining of case are a yellow card of instructions and a greencertificate of accuracy.

Case cover imprinted "Schioetz-Tonometer Improved". Tonometer engraved "6988" and logo of "JJW". One weight engraved "7,5", other "10"

tonometer schiotz pressure optometry ophthalmology

Cyril Henry Woodford Kett FBOA FSMC (1890-1971) was one of the five people who signed the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Australian College of Optometry in 1939. He was a councillor of the College from 1940 to 1970 and First Vice President 1944 to 1947. He was made an honorary life member of the College in 1954. He donated numerous items of historical interest to the College that provided the foundation of the Museum which now bears his name. It was painted by another optometrist, John Nathan.

This painting is significant to the College as it is one of only ten portraits in oils of individuals who have been leaders in the development of the College.

This framed oil painting shows Mr Cyril Henry Woodford Kett FBOA FSMC (1890-1971),Councillor and Vice President of the Australian College of Optometry, an important figure in Optometry in Victoria. It was painted in 1980 by another optometrist, John Nathan,and is signed by the artist at lower right corner: 'John Nathan'.

Signed by artist at lower right corner: 'John Nathan'. Plaque on frame reads:'Cyril H W Kett FBOA(Hons) FSMC FVOA c1890-1970/ Councillor of the College 1940-1970/ Vice President 1940-42, 1944-47, 1948-50, 1954-70/ Chairman of Council 1944-1947/ One of the five signatories to the original Memorandum of Association of the Victorian College of Optometry'.

optometry, painting, oil painting, portrait, cyril h w kett

The cartoon was drawn by John Nathan, one of the final year students in the first class to graduate with the diploma of Licentiate of Optometric Science from the Australian College of Optometry. His father was Bertram Nathan who played important roles in obtaining registration of optometrists in 1934 and on the Council of the College. John was to become Director of Studies from 1950 to 1964 and President of the College from 1969 to 1978. He also paints in oils.

This cartoon is significant to the Australian College of Optometry as a piece of memorabilia from the class of 1944. It is one of only two drawings of optometrists in the Kett collection.

Framed ink on paper cartoon drawing of final year Optometrical Science students of 1944 in Melbourne. The characters are depicted playing in an optometric consulting room. It is headed 'Final Year Optometrical Science 1944' and at the lower edge are the names of the students 'John Nathan, Tony "Craniclaw" Douglas, Vans Ovenden and Doug Allen'. Signed by the artist 'John Nathan'.This cartoon drawing depicts final year Optometry students in a contemporary consulting room of 1944. They are shown in typical optometrists' attire of dark trousers, side-buttoning short white coats and PD ruler in the breast pocket. The room has an electric instrument stand, hydraulic patient chair and internally illuminated test chart. The drawing shows the artist's name 'John Nathan' and is mounted in a black frame.

Signed by the artist 'John Nathan'

students, optometry, optometrical science, cartoon, drawing

This spectacle case is designed to be worn attached to a belt or waistband in the style of a 'chatelaine'. It is made of electroplated nickel silver (EPNS) and is lined with blue velvet. This style of spectacle case was used late in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

This spectacle case is one of the most ornate in the collection.

Chatelaine spectacle case with elaborately pierced pattern decoration made of electroplated nickel silver. Empty cartouche. Deep blue velvet lining. Small chain links case to holding clasp.

Rear of clasp hook stamped 'EPNS W Ltd'

spectacle case, epns, chatelaine

This book is a guide to eyecare for the intelligent lay-reader, not so different from books still published today. It appeared in a number of editions until about 1900. This one is edited by George Black MB(Edin) as part of the Long Life Series.

As this book is a guide to eyecare for the lay-reader it is socially significant. It is not rare, but being somewhat ephemeral it would not be expected to see copies of this book surviving in the very good condition of our copy. No other copies are listed on WorlCat for Australia.

Small hardback book in original printed green cloth covers, 139 pages and 21 figures with 20 pages of book advertisements. The decorative Art Nouveau cover is visually attractive. It is a late nineteenth century guide to eyecare for the intelligent lay-reader. It was priced at one shilling.

Signature of J B Shattock on half title page.

ophthalmology, eye, eyesight, eyecare

This is the 1854 fourth edition of a book on diseases of the eye by William MacKenzie (1791-1868) first published in 1830. William MacKenzie was surgeon oculist in Scotland to Her Majesty (Queen Victoria), lecturer in the University of Glasgow and a surgeon in the Glasgow Eye Infirmary. This fourth edition appeared just after Helmholtz's invention of the ophthalmoscope, but Mackenzie did not at this stage have much understanding of the internal diseases of the eye. Nor did he properly understand refractive errors which were soon to be elucidated by the work of Donders. MacKenzie did however recognise the hardness of the eye as being an essential sign of glaucoma.

This book is significant historically as it shows contemporary understanding of eye disease in the early nineteenth century. It is not rare as copies still turn up at book markets and also are held in other Australian institutions.

This book, bound in full calf leather (probably later 19th Century) with 1107 pages including an index and is followed by a publisher's catalogue. It is the 1854 fourth edition of William MacKenzie's 'A practical treatise on the diseases of the eye' first published in 1830. It has a long (32 pages) introductory section on the anatomy of the eye by Thomas Wharton Jones, FRS. There are 27 chapters on eye disease. Chapter 24 is on refractive errors and presbyopia.

eye, ocular anatomy, ocular disease

This book is the 1835 second edition of John Harrison Curtis' 1833 'A Treatise on the Physiology and Diseases of the Eye, containing a new mode of curing cataract without an operation, experiments and observations on vision, also on the inflection, reflection and colours of light together with remarks on the preservation of sight, and on spectacles, reading glasses etc'. The title page describes J H Curtis (1778-1860) as an oculist and also as an expert on the ear. His knowledge of eye pathology and surgery was poor but this was typical of the medical profession until the middle of the 19th century. He was 'aurist in ordinary' to His Majesty and other members of the royal family and his hospital and teaching appointments had more to do with the ear rather than the eye. The last pages of the book list his other publications most of which concern the ear and the deaf. He was the first person, in 1803, to apply speaking tubes to assist the deaf. He established the Royal Ear Hospital in Soho, UK in 1816.

This book is of historic significance as it shows contemporary understanding of ocular pathology in the early nineteenth century. It is quite rare as no other copies of the second edition are known in Australia.

'A Treatise on the Physiology and the Diseases of the Eye' by J H Curtis is book of 1835 bound in its original boards, in very good condition, 230 x 140 mm, 242 pages, second edition. There is a coloured plate facing the title page with three figures featuring an ingenious lift up section of a woman's face to show the blood vessels and nerves underneath. There is a philosophical introduction, a chapter on ocular anatomy, two chapters on diseases and their treatment, one on the nature of light and one on the preservation of vision. Cataract is treated by withdrawal of blood from behind the ear and the application of an ointment to an induced blister on the neck, with potash applied to the cornea daily.

optics, ocular anatomy, ocular disease, physiology, cataract

This book of lectures on optics & geometry by Isaac Barrow, from 1674, was published in London in Latin to make it available to scholars across Europe. Isaac Barrow (1630-1677) was a graduate of Cambridge (BA 1649, MA 1652) and a mathematician. He became Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge in 1663 and was tutor to Newton. This book includes Barrow's studies in geometric optics and the nature of light; material that would have encouraged Newton's better known research.

This book has historical significance as it details the contemporary development of the knowledge of optics in the late 17th century. It is quite rare as no other copies are listed on WorldCat for Australia.

Book, bound in full calf leather of the period, about optics and geometry by Isaac Barrow, in Latin. It has a title page, 12 introductory pages and 151 pages of text divided into 13 "lectures". There are 13 fold-out figures illustrating geometric constructs. It is in good condition except that the front cover is at present detached.

optics, geometry, isaac barrow

This 300 year old book deals with the theory of light and colour and with investigations of the colours of thin sheets, 'Newton's rings', and diffraction of light. Newton uses a wave theory of light and his corpuscular theory to explain his observations. Sir Isaac Newton (1643-1727) was a great figure in the history of optical science. His classic 'Opticks' was first published in English in 1704. This Latin edition of 1706 was published to satisfy a wider scientific audience in Europe. Newton was Lucasian Professor at Cambridge 1669-1693 and a fellow of Trinity College. He achieved fame as a creative mathematician and for his law of universal gravitation which explains planetary motions. He retired from research in 1693 to become a government official in London.

This book is highly significant as a milestone in the study of optics. Although not a very rare book, only one other copy is listed by WorldCat in an Australian institution.

Latin edition of Newton's 'Optics' translated by Samuel Clarke. This copy is bound in full calf leather of the period, 348 pages, with fold-out figures plus a 24 page appendix 'Enumeratio linearum tertii ordinis' and a 43 page appendix 'Tractus de quadratura curvarum'. It is in outstandingly good condition.

Inscribed on the fly leaf in pencil is that this is the 2nd edition, the first in Latin, and that Newton gave Clarke 500 pounds for the translation.

refraction, optics, newton, reflection

This pretty folding silver lorgnette appears European in styling and may be French. The extensive scratching on the lenses indicates many years of use. This form of lorgnette was popular in the mid to late nineteenth century.

This lorgnette is significant to the collection as one of the most ornate.

Silver folding short handled lorgnette with pivoted bridge and ornamental loop handle. Round convex lenses badly scratched.

lenses, glasses, lorgnette, folding spectacles

This case only includes spherical lenses and has no cylindrical lenses for correction of astigmatism. The lenses have no rims, which was unusual after 1900. The set appears to have had very little use as it is in excellent condition.

This is a late example of a trial case comprising only spherical lenses. The trial frame is a very rare type.

Small timber cased trial set of spherical lenses only. No rims on lenses. Case labelled with lens powers in dioptres and inches. Trial frame included of unusual design:each eye rim has a sprung top cover to secure lens in place. Nickel alloy. Fixed bridge stamped 62, tapered sides with loop ends. Also a lens handling tool (nickel alloy) to position a lens in front of patient's eye.

Lens powers labelled in inches and dioptres. Trial frame bridge stamped '62'.

optometry, lenses, refraction, trial case, trial set

These silver spectacles are of a design widely used through the early to mid-19th century. They may have been used by several generations after the original owner. They are part of a major donation to the Kett collection by Mrs Wantrup, widow of optometrist Charles Wantrup.

These silver spectacles have significance to the collection as part of a major donation to the Kett collection by Mrs Wantrup, widow of optometrist Cyril Wantrup.

Silver oval eye Georgian spectacles with saddle bridge and glass lenses. Sliding sides with small loops at ends for a riband. Partial hallmarks: lion passant and IP (maker's mark)on front and each side.

Stamped with lion passant and maker's mark 'IP'.

silver, spectacles, glasses, georgian spectacles

These night driving spectacles are in a shape of frame fashionable for ladies in the 1950's. The position of the lens silvering shows that these are designed for use in right hand drive cars. These were an expensive item in their day. Their excellent condition and original cardboard box suggest that they may be unsold new old stock.

No other example of these Nupronite night driving spectacles is known in any Australian collection.

Boxed Nupronite night driving spectacles. Yellow flat plano glass lenses with silver mirror finish in wearer's upper right field of each lens (to minimise glare of oncoming lights). Tortoise-shell look cat's eye frame. In original cardboard box.

On box:'Nuprosal/ Nupronite/ "CAT'S EYES" NIGHT DRIVING SPECTACLES OUTSTANDING IN DESIGN AND QUALITY/ MANUFACTURED BY OPTICAL CRAFTSMEN/ MADE IN ENGLAND BY NUPRO LONDON/ MODEL:CAT'S EYES/ LENSES:SUPER/ COLOUR:AUTUMN LEAF'. Price added by hand '2 pound 17/6'

spectacles, glare, night driving, eye protection

Single lenses were used to assist reading for many centuries before spectacles were widely available. This magnifying lens may be even older than its case. The simple, large glass lens is held in a hand-worked horn or bone rim. The leather case decorated with floral beadwork is typical of northern European styles c1850.

This lens is significant for the collection as it is the earliest mounted single lens in the Kett Museum.

Large, round, horn-rimmed reading glass, or magnifier lens, incorporating ring-shaped handle. Glass lens in horn or bone rim. Leather slip-in case with floral beadwork.

lens, magnifier, reading lens, horn rim, beadwork

Model eyes were used by students to practise skills of ophthalmoscopy and retinoscopy. This item shows more variety of fundus view and refractive state than most.

This fine example is preserved in excellent condition, perhaps through lack of use. It is the most complex of the five model eyes in the collection.

Cased metal model eye for teaching ophthalmoscopy and retinoscopy. 17 numbered interchangeable fundi illustrating various pathological conditions. Double cell lens holder in front can hold lenses for retinoscopy. Axis scale on front. 6 lenses provided to simulate various refractive states. Rotating disc changes between 3 pupil sizes. Model eye, fundi samples & lenses enclosed in snap closing wooden case, covered in black leatherette and lined with burgundy velvet.

Inside case:'F.DAVIDSON & Co,/ 29 GREAT PORTLAND STREET,/ LONDON, W/ DUNN'S MODEL EYE'

optometry, ophthalmology, model eye, teaching, ophthalmoscopy, retinoscopy

Trial frames are used to hold trial spectacle lenses in front of the eyes to establish the spectacle refraction. This unit is able to hold 3 lenses in front of each eye. It is very complex for its early date.

This trial frame is a rare example of a very complex early design which has survived in good condition.

Complex nineteenth century trial frame: double lens clip to front rotated by long control knob. Single downward pointing lens clip to back. Bridge height and extension adjustable. Variable inter-pupillary distance calibrated in inches. Slide extending curl sides.

Eye rims stamped:'PAT NOV.6.94 & PAT JUNE25.95'. Sides stamped:'PAT APR.30.95'

optometry, eye examination, refraction, trial frame, spectacles

Stereoscope slide viewers were popular throughout the late 19th and early 20th century. The dual photographic images gave a three-dimensional view of popular tourism sites and sometimes news events.

This is the only stereoscope in the collection intended for general use. Others held in the collection were intended for study of ocular anatomy or visual training.

Stereoscope slide viewer. Wood with metal eyeshield engraved with eagle decoration. Folding wooden handle. Detachable sliding target slide holder.

Clip mount stamped 'PATENT/AUS', unclear

stereoscope, stereopsis, views, tourism, souvenir

These contact lenses represent some of the earliest lenses used in Australia. They were made in Germany and distributed in Australia. Very few optometrists were involved with contact lenses in the 1930's.

These lenses are rare as few glass contact lenses have survived intact from the 1930's.

Pair of glass scleral contact lenses in D-shaped plastic hinged case. Case for right lens includes rubber suction lens handler.

Right case:25/8 R -2, Left case:5/8 L -3. Case cover impressed:Carl Zeiss Jena/ Made in Germany

optometry, contact lenses, scleral lenses, carl zeiss

How widely the prisoptometer was used is unclear but the Standard Optical Company later patented a new model, The Standard Prisoptometer, on June 21, 1904. Edward Jackson's crossed cylinder technique of determining astigmatism was first detailed in the Transactions of the American Ophthalmological Society (1887)4:595-598. The convenience of Jackson's crossed cylinder lenses over the prisoptometer in weight, cost, portability and reliability meant that they were soon almost universally adopted.

This is a rare item as few are known world wide.

This instrument is an optometer, that is, a device to measure the refractive error of an eye. It is made of cast iron, steel, brass and glass. It contains a prism which could be rotated, and was used to view a disc or an object circle. The prism caused monocular doubling of the object circle and the separation of the two images varied as the prism rotated, depending on the astigmatism present. The axis of the astigmatism was indicated by the prisoptometer and trial lenses were used to determine the the magnitude of the spherical and cylindrical refractive error

Imprinted:"DR CULBERTSON'S PRISOPTOMETER/ GENEVA OPTICAL COMPANY MAKERS, GENEVA, N.Y./ PATENTED SEPT, 21, 1886". Stamped "853" on eyepiece and lens mounting.

optometry, prisoptometer, optometer, astigmatism, refractive error, refraction, culbertson

This model was used in lectures in the College from the mid 20th century. An ophthalmotrope is a mechanical model constructed to demonstrate the movements of the eyes and the actions of the various muscles which produce them. The first ophthalmotrope was made by Theodore Reute in 1845 and it was he who gave it the name 'ophthalmotrope'. Frans Donders (1818-1889) became interested in eye movements on reading Reute's work, and his subsequent studies were of physiological interest and also provided the basis for principles underlying the correction of squint. Because of the complexity of the actions and counter actions of the eye muscles, ophthalmologists of the 19th century sought a practical solution with the construction of mechanical models. Reute's second model of 1857 was more sophisticated. Its eyeballs contained lenses and the optical system could be moved backwards and forwards to simulate accommodation. Later ophthalmotropes are known by Landolt, Knapp and Snellen.

This ophthalmotrope is the one that was used as a teaching aid in the College from the mid 20th century.

Brass framed model to illustrate actions of extra-ocular muscles. Two painted wooden globes mounted in brass frame with coloured strings attached to brass weights positioned to show actions of various extra-ocular muscles. Also wooden storage box. Materials: brass, metal, wood, string.

optometry, ophthalmology, ophthalmotrope, eye, eye movements, extra ocular muscles, eye muscles, eye teaching

Richard Liebreich of Germany invented his design of ophthalmoscope in 1855. This example is complete in its case with Coccius lenses and condensing lenses. Early ophthalmoscopes required an external source of illumination, eg lamp or candle, and light was reflected into the eye to be examined by the mirror on the ophthalmoscope. The earliest versions of the Liebreich ophthalmoscope used a polished metal surface to reflect light; glass mirrors were introduced in 1870. A condensing lens was held in front of the patient to view the image. A Coccius lens could be clipped into the holder to counter ametropia of user or subject.

This Liebreich ophthalmoscope is significant for the collection as it is the only complete example of the three held in the collection.

Cased Liebreich ophthalmoscope with 5 small coccius glass lenses and 2 glass condensing lenses. Non-illuminated ophthalmoscope has concave mirror in round head with central sight hole.Hinged coccius clip attached to hold lenses. Black metal head, silver coloured mount and black turned timber handle. Case has black leather outer lining and purple velvet and satin inner linings. Case hinged with snap closure.

On front of case:"LIEBREICH'S OPHTHALMOSCOPE" 4 of 5 Coccius lenses engraved with powers: "8-", "12-", "-01", "+01"

ophthalmoscope, optometry, ophthalmology, liebreich, coccius, lenses, eye examination, fundus, funduscopy, non illuminated, instrument, eye doctor, liebreich ophthalmoscope