List of oldest eyewear companies
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This page lists the oldest brands and companies that have been exclusively engaged in the eyewear manufacturing industry to date, across various countries. "Eyewear" is a relatively modern term encompassing all items and accessories worn over the eyes for fashion, environmental protection, and medical purposes, including glasses (also known as eyeglasses or spectacles) and sunglasses. To be listed, a brand or company name must manufacture and sell its own eyewear products and remain operating, either in whole or in part, since inception. Generic optical stores, retailers and factories are not included in the list.
List of oldest eyewear companies
| Year | Company | Current location | Parent company | Sources [1][2] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750 | Dollond & Aitchison | United
Kingdom |
||
| 1777 | C.W. Dixey & Son | United Kingdom | [3][4][5][6] | |
| 1816 | Campbell Optik | Germany | Independent (sister company: Friedrichs Optik) | [7][8][9][10] |
| 1826 | American Optical Company | United States | Europa Eyewear | [11][12] |
| 1853 | Bausch + Lomb | Canada | Independent | [13] |
| 1865 | Shuron | United States | [14] | |
| 1872 | Lotos | Germany | [15] | |
| 1875 | E.B. Meyrowitz | United Kingdom | [16][17][18][19][20] | |
| 1875 | Asakura | Japan | [21] | |
| 1877 | Rodenstock | Germany | ||
| 1878 | Gouverneur Audigier | France | [22][23] | |
| 1878 | Lozza | Italy | [24][25][26] | |
| 1879 | Erker's | United States | [27][28] | |
| 1880 | Marius Morel | France | [29] | |
| 1882 | Anglo American Optical | United States | [30][31] | |
| 1883 | Hakusan Megane | Japan | [32] | |
| 1887 | Watanabe Megane | Japan | [33] | |
| 1888 | Julbo | Francia | [34] | |
| 1907 | Tokyo Megane | Japan | [35] | |
| 1905 | Masunaga | Japan | [36] | |
| 1907 | Taihodo | Japan | [37] | |
| 1914 | Sterling Optical | United States | Emerging Vision | [38][39][40] |
| 1915 | Moscot | United States | [41][42][43][44] | |
| 1917 | Persol | Italy | EssilorLuxottica | [45][46][47] |
| 1917 | Kame ManNen | Japan | [48] | |
| 1918 | Art-Craft Optical | United States | [49] | |
| 1919 | Foster Grant | United States | EssilorLuxottica | [50][51] |
| 1925 | Jono Hennessy | Australia | Independent | [52][53] |