I haven't found much information about the Highgate Optical Manufacturing Company, whose offices were located at St George's House, 44 Hatton Garden, in Clerkenwell. It produced spectacles frames, glasses, sunglasses and possibly some optical parts for photographers or photo studios. In the 1950s its range of spectacles for ladies included the '
Sonata' model, one pair of which is now in the collection of the College of Optometrists. It is possible the company was founded after the war as the first mention dates from 1947, when it exposed its products at the British Industries Fair held at Olympia exhibition centre. Then the name appears in several ophtalmology and photography journals published in the 1960s and 1970s, the last one dating from 1978.
The company had two factories: one in Lewisham, and one in Hornsey, where the ghost sign below can be seen.
Highgate
Optical
Manufacturing
46 Co.Actually this was painted over one if not two earlier signs. Several letters can be seen here and there, including some written diagonally, but the gaps are too big to make any sense. At the bottom are the letters
...mous.t..ew...setBelow the name of the company, a nice roundel with a manicule (a pointed hand) indicated the way to the goods entrance to truck drivers and delivery men.
Location: Tottenham Lane / Pictures taken on: 19/10/2010
No comments:
Post a Comment