#190-CIVIL WAR SALE: UNUSUAL SPECTACLES WITH ADJUSTABLE ARMS

We have othe glasses in this sale, but only listed multiple lots because they were all different; you'll find a pair of "Ben Franklin" (very small) glasses with their original case and a lot of THREE different pair for one price. And these, which are the unique ones of the group. They have standard somewhat small lenses but this is the best way I could photograph their unusual feature. Looking down from the top, if you look at the right arm it is thicker than the left since it has two pieces. The movable one is retracted; on the left side the standard length is shown and then out of the little oval halfway up/down(?) the arm you can see the extended segment.

They could be extended all the way as shown on the left, or perhaps 1/4 or 1/2 of their maximum; they're adjusted by gently pulling the extended piece as far as you want to rest comforably on your ears. Finally if you look a the end of the fully extended left arm or the halfway extended right arm you can see a small opening--like an oversized eye of a needle. Since they serve no other purpose I believe they are there so the wearer can string something between them--so they can lie on your chest without them falling and getting lost, or you can position them however makes you feel safe; they will stay on you because of the safety string/strap which you have strung between the arm ends.

A very cool pair of glasses that was probably quite inventive for the mid-19th century spectacles.