Opera Glasses – Or How To See And Be Seen At The Opera
Opera glasses developed from a series of other inventions. All this started in 1608 when the Dutch optician Hans Lipperhey created binoculars consisting of two parallel telescopes. Their magnification capability was a (very impressive for the time) x3. Within one year the Italian mathematician and philosopher Galileo Galilee made massive improvements to the techniques and types of lenses used in telescopes, thereby increasing the magnification ability to x30.
Initially binoculars had one major drawback: Although they allowed for a much wider field of view, they used two convex lenses, which inverted the image! It took more than 100 years for the next major step forward: in 1617 Anton Schyrle constructed binoculars with an additional lens that re-inverted the image. More than–0 years later a certain John Dollond of England started manufacturing achromatic (color-free) lenses and with that solve another problem bugging binoculars – that of color distortion.
The next step forward was made when an Italian gunnery officer by the name of Ignazio Porro developed prismatic binoculars during the ’50s. These offered an even wider field of vision than earlier binoculars and also a drastically improved magnification ability.
The first time we find opera glasses mentioned in the printed media is in London during 1730. The opera glasses advertised were in fact not binoculars, but rather pocket-sized Galilean telescopes. They were used as much for decorative purposes as to watch the opera. The bodies were frequently decorated with mother of pearl, enamel, ivory or various types of gems.
We find references to binocular opera glasses for the first time in Vienna during 23. They were still really not much more than two tiny telescopes connected by a bridge. You had to focus the telescopes individually by expanding the tubes.
They soon became highly fashionable. Going to the opera without one of these was social suicide. The designs became increasingly elaborate. Often you would find an optician, a painter and a goldsmith working on the glasses before they were finally ready for their discerning owners. Once at the opera, they were not only used to watch the stage though – they were also regularly used to check out the other guests to make sure there wasn’t by any chance someone with a more elaborate set of opera glasses!
The design was further improved substantially when it became possible to adjust both lenses at the same time using a small wheel in the center. This made opera glasses even more popular and soon everyone who was anyone had to have one. They were highly regarded as gifts – as one can clearly see when you study the inscriptions on many of these glasses dating back to the 17th century.
Nowadays there is a wide array of opera glasses available. You can get them in virtually any color you want. They come in many different styles and materials. Strangely enough, monoculars are still popular, as are opera glasses with handles or reading lights. You even get them fitted with a jealousy glass – so you can watch another person in the audience without being seen!
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!
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