James, Missouri, USA:
Buying on the internet is always a worry for me. With you, however, I was very comfortable for many reasons. First, I asked you several questions that you not only answered, but answered quickly and thoughtfully. Second, Your resume, on the internet sight, is impressive. Third, Your picture seemed to be that of an honest person. Fourth, you were very honest in regards to the questions to my questions. You told me that you might not be able to do the entire job. Fifth, you took the time to look at the emailed pictures I sent you and commented on your ability to reproduce them. For these reasons, I felt commfortable that you were an honest guy not trying to rip me.
I searched you out because I had a special need. I have many sunglasses. Expensive ones. None of which have satified me or my needs. You had the solution. You have the ability that I could not find anywhere else. You were willing to test your skills to produce a pair of glasses that I had been looking for for years. Throgh the internet you and I agreed on the frame design, you mande me your consultant, I respect and appreciated that very much!
You asked insightful questions of me, the end user, to make sure my needs were meet. You took your time and made mock-up drawings for me to critic. You took my suggestions and made them into a real product of not only function that I needed but also of style that I wanted.
Overall I think it went very well considering that we are half a world apart! [read other endorsements ...].

Making such a frame as this begins with an accurate drawing. Here's the computer drawing. My choice of 2D CAD application is ProCAD+ for RISC OS. After much consultation with the customer and checking for accuracy I stick the printout onto solid sterling silver and begin work with normal jewellery tools.

I left little buttons on the eyerims so I can attach the shield pivots at the correct place, using, probably, titanium binding wire. After filing accurately to the line of the design and pressing an overall curve, I file a bevel and then file some shape into the frame. At this stage the temples are still attached to the front. I intend to bend the temples back and align them well before sawing them off and putting in the hinges.

After bending and shaping they're looking better. Now to add the details. I'd included in the drawing some points of reference which I centrepunch onto the silver and retain something of the drawn accuracy when placing the hinges, rimlocks, etc. They are soldered on with varying grades of silver solder, depending on sequence, position, and also with consideration of what an optical technician would expect.

The shields are drawn up and also pasted onto the materials: titanium and leather. The pivot anchors will be made of 2.8mm sterling silver tubing, with an inner pivot of 2mm tubing and a 1.4mm nickel screw.

Prior to assembly of the parts. Here all of the optical findings are soldered in place. I use Italian optical parts mostly, sometimes German parts. It's important to arrange for the temples to fold back and up slightly. The leather shield is rivetted onto the titanium subframe with rivets made from 2mm silver tubing and a cap-piece.

All assembled. The last part was to saw through the rimlock. It's a device like a threaded tube that is soldered onto the eyerim in one piece and when the whole frame is completed I make a saw cut through it and the eyewire. This is how the lenses are held in there and easily removed. All the screws are tightened just so and secured with 'Loctite'.

index