Revolutionary War Brass Spectacles 1776

A Beautifully Preserved 1776 Survivor

This pair of Revolutionary War brass spectacles dates to the late 1700s. It features the “C” bridge style common to that era. The frame also carries a maker’s mark, “BENZ” (pronounced phonetically). Although antiquespectacles.com references a brass maker’s mark called “BENZI,” this example does not match that name exactly, making its precise maker somewhat uncertain.

Double-Hinged Temples for a Secure Fit

The temples on these Revolutionary War brass spectacles use what collectors describe as a double hinge design. Makers built this mechanism specifically to help hold the frames in place by wrapping around the head to some degree. This construction detail reflects a practical solution to a common problem with early eyeglass frames keeping them secure without modern nose pads or spring hinges.

Convex Lenses With Period Power

The convex glass lenses carry about 1 diopter of power. A modern optician could replace these lenses with a new prescription if a wearer wanted to actually use the frame today, without disturbing the historic brass structure. This pair arrived very tarnished. After careful cleaning, the natural beauty of the brass came through clearly, revealing the fine detail in the frame’s construction.

A Connection to Hessian Soldiers

According to collector tradition, the American colonies did not manufacture brass spectacles during this period. Instead, craftsmen made pairs like this one in Germany. Hessian soldiers, hired by the British to reinforce their forces during the Revolutionary War, are said to have carried spectacles like these to the American colonies. Roughly 30,000 German soldiers served in North America during the war, and personal items like eyewear often traveled with them. Collectors sometimes regard these Revolutionary War brass spectacles as a small, tangible spoil of war, passed between hands during a pivotal chapter of American history. Browse related pieces in our spectacles collection.