History of wood rimmed glasses

In early 90s together with my colleagues in Moscow plant for specialized automobiles (MZSA) we designed a full-scale engine prototype with external heat supply (Stirling Engine) . In spring 1995 the project was stopped due to economic problems and property re-distribution at the plant. Therefore we tried to resume the project at another plant "A.Lyulka-Saturn" (see the photos of the equipment below). But again the project was stopped with no clear perspectives.

So I left the plant at late 1997 and became a "free artist". As my previous job with the Stirling Engine slowed down, the new project accelerated and enlarged with simple facilities. This new project's implementation to the maxmimum was dependant on me and to the minimum on the economic conditions. That was the debut of developing of the manufacturing technology for wood rimmed glasses.

The first glasses (the round ones) were crafted in May 1995. This article was gifted in late summer and showed up in April's issue of OM magazine.

All round glasses are crafted using technology-95 (named after the year of the technology development). First 49 glasses including 5 or 6 of oval shape, which is not good in my view, were manufactured applying technology-95. Starting from 18th pair the number and Latin initials A.S. are depicted on inner side of right arm. The glasses starting from number 197 and further are marked with the initials similar to the designer's logo.

In August 1998 I had some excessive free time due to the Russian Financial Crisis, which I used for developing of new technology. The glasses number 50 were crafted using technology-98 as early as in September . Exactly one year later I was lucky to buy an apartment in the old building dated late 19 th century, which became my studio, manufacturing workshop and experimental laboratory. All glasses starting from the number 108th , as well as other unique objects, came out from the thick walls of this studio. The glasses with opened frame were crafted in late 2000. This technology 00 is the most laconic one. It implements a simple idea : the glasses in the frame are held in places by means of the flexible property of wood. This Alfa model is represented in Museum. Early 2002 was the final in technological diversity of wooden frames. This year gave birth to the most complex for manufacturing elliptic assymetric frames. These articles are to express surrealistic and sonorous emotions. In 2003 the models combining features of several technologies were designed, for instance the model 8i composes both Technologies 98 and 00.

The spring of 2003 gave us major improvement of technology with the implementation of silicon shock-absorber layer. As a result the wooden frame under the conditions of dry climate has a possibility to shrink. Therefore, no inner strain is accumulated in the frame or glass, which otherwise could have led to wood or glass cracking in case of fall . Conditions of wet climate could cause an expansion of the frame, so the silicon prevents unpleasant vibration of glass while walking. In addition, the silicon allows to increase the degree of the frame deformation and take maximum advantage of wood flexibility. The improved technology meets very high exploitation standards.