Club Obi Wan

All

I am now the proud owner of a pair of glasses as worn by Harrison Ford in the original Indiana Jones trilogy which I picked up here in the UK during a recent trip to London. I should state up front that my successfully obtaining these glasses is entirely due to my good friend Michaelson who guided me to some archived posts on the “glasses” topic here on this website. I subsequently contacted Mr Peter Viner of the Algha Group Ltd, (full contact details below) who confirmed that he did indeed still produce the spectacle frames used in the original Indiana Jones films and that the model I was looking for was model Panto, (metal colour gold, with chestnut covering round rims, curl sides with plastic cover on part). Note Berkshire Chase, BOIC and similar outlets are simply distribution agents. Peter is the original manufacturer, with the frames still being produced by hand within his London premises.

Peter very kindly allowed me to visit him personally for a fitting as I’d never required glasses before (old age kicking in), and I made my way to Bromley-By-Bow tube station. The Algha Group is around 15 minutes walk from the station entrance and a quick search on the internet or browse through a London A-Z will show you the location. Peter was an absolute gentleman throughout and took time to ensure the measurements were just right, and also showed me some of the materials used in the frames construction which includes 14kt rolled gold. Peter produces a whole range of spectacle frames and his list of clients has included Eric Clapton, Ozzy Osbourne (round rim with blue lenses) and I believe the late John Lennon.

Peter kindly gave me a lift back to the station and my glasses arrived a couple of weeks later (price £130). Service was 11 out of 10, and the frames are absolutely beautiful as I’m sure you’ll agree from the photos. Note the lenses in the photo’s are a non-prescription lens type and show labels fixed prior to shipping.

Peters contact details are as follows:

Algha Group Ltd
Smeed Road
London
E3 2NR
Tel: +44 (0)20 8985 5466
Fax: +44 (0)20 8986 3484
E-Mail: sales@algha.demon.co.uk
www.algha.com

Best regards

Jock

PS Perhaps the “Gear” section of the website could be updated with this contact information.

PPS I would have posted some photo's but I don't see how. Cut n paste doesn't seem work with my jpegs in this text box.

Hi Jock

This is interesting. Were the glasses made to order? Are all the dimensions customizable? When I was fitted for my current glasses I found my choice of styles was limited to what fitted me. The price seems reasonable...

By the way, to post pictures you need to store them on an external image site and then link to them...

Cheers
Alex

Hey Jock!!! Where IN the world have you been hiding......again?

Glad you finally got those frames!! I passed the word to the folks updating the main site of your updated information. Thank you!!

HIGH regards! Michaelson

Thanks Jock. As I've said in a few previous posts, Peter, and thus Algha, is an actual member to the forums now. It'd be nice to get him to post a bit!

Mike

I just ordered these glasses from Frames Direct. They came to $430 with lenses, clip-ons, and shipping.

I notice there in different posts some people say Chestnut is the right color, and in other posts they say Blond, as Chestnut is too dark.

Which is "right"?

Chestnut was right for me.

I like brunettes, but my frames are blonde.

Depends on your skin tone and preference. Get what you think looks best.

I used to have a pair of these, got through the National health service for £30 in 1989 or so. I was most impressed they were gold at the time and obviously unaware of their connection.

As with lots of things - I wish I hadn't thrown them away when I got another pair...

I couldn't go back to a pair of rimmed glasses now - I have been wearing rimless for a good 10 years, but they do a Panto rimless which I like the look of.

Cheers
Cyclops

;0

Well you could go to the Algha website and find the frames youself, but if you don't want to follow the instructions listed above, here is a shot of my frames, same make and model:
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh14 ... vedear.jpg

I don't know how to make the image apear inside this post. Can anyone tell me how to do that?

I think that others have posted their Algha frame befoe this, too.

Indiana MarkVII wrote:Well you could go to the Algha website and find the frames youself, but if you don't want to follow the instructions listed above, here is a shot of my frames, same make and model:
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh14 ... vedear.jpg

I don't know how to make the image apear inside this post. Can anyone tell me how to do that?

I think that others have posted their Algha frame befoe this, too.

And is that chestnut or blond?

I'm pretty sure that it is chestnut.

Thanks guys. I visited the Algha works yesterday and met with Peter, what a friendly chap!

Yes, chestnut is the correct color. Blond(e) (didn't get time for a picture) is almost yellow/tan and really nothing like the SA color.

Peter is making a custom set of frames for me (to fit my big head) which was the main reason I wanted to visit.

I'm very excited and can't wait for them!

Best part of the visit was the factory itself, a building from 1908 that evoked some memories for me of places I had worked in the distant past.

So ANZAC, did you ever receive them?

Pictures would be nice...

Indiana Joosse wrote:So ANZAC, did you ever receive them?

Pictures would be nice...

Bit of a long story. Peter asked me to submit my address details using the web form on his site (even though I was there in person) which I did but somehow they got lost and he never sent the payment request. I sent him some emails but I think his email address changed because it bounced.

So I called him, my glasses had been put back into his stock (sidearms are custom bent to fit on my big melon head); long story short I just got the paypal request last week and paid him, so hopefully they are on their way right now!

For the record, the email I most recently sent to was savile.row (at) algha.co.uk.

Allright, thanks for the explanation.

Sorry to hear it.

It really seems that gear only comes to those who wait.

For a very long time, that is...

But when they do come, I trust you'll post pictures, right?

Indiana Joosse wrote:Allright, thanks for the explanation.

Sorry to hear it.

It really seems that gear only comes to those who wait.

For a very long time, that is...

But when they do come, I trust you'll post pictures, right?

Definitely! I should also be clear that the communication issue I had was just emails getting lost in the ether, not anything to do with Peter's service.

Can't wait to get them.

I'll be saving this post's info because just a few weeks ago I was searching the web and COW for a source for frames.

My square frames just don't scream "Henry Senior", I'm afraid:



But since I had cataract surgery several years ago and see pretty well far away (at least for Halloween) I wouldn't necessarily need to get prescription lenses. Are these frames available sans-lense and if so, for how much? And are there other sources for frames that are close to these in design?

Not sure about the ones Henry senior wears, but I managed to score a vintage pair of Algha Panto's off ebay yesterday for 45 pounds.

I decided to get the frame without lenses so my optician can fit the glasses here.

The seller, Dead Men's Spex was very helpfull and has quite a few other models as well, so it's worth checking him out for a Henry senior model.

Indiana Joosse wrote:The seller, Dead Men's Spex was very helpfull and has quite a few other models as well, so it's worth checking him out for a Henry senior model.

Thanks, I've found his web homepage here:

http://www.deadmensspex.com/index.htm

and will drop him a line to see what he may have available.

You're welcome.

I have found Darren to be very polite and accomodating.

This guy gets a big thumbs up from me!

The frames arrived in the mail today!



Now all I have to do is to get them glazed. Trouble is, I don't want to leave the house today as my Fed IV might arrive at any time...



Decisions, decisions...

Those look great, Joosse!!

Thanks Bazza!

Now I'm really going to have to save up to get that Magnoli Barnett three piece....

They looks really good. How new are they?

Indiana Joosse wrote: The seller, Dead Men's Spex......

I buy my vintage frames in antique stores when I'm out on our weekend jaunts....but that said, as creepy as the company name is, if you think about it....it sure describes what you're buying, doesn't it?

Regards! Michaelson

Kt Templar wrote:They looks really good. How new are they?

I actually asked him about that, this is what he told me:

"Its a genuine vintage piece.

I'm a dispensing optician and spend my time in the back of old opticians and warehouses sourcing old eyewear."

So the frame is old, but has never been used.

And yes, Michaelson, I was wondering about that name as well, so I asked about that too...

Here's what he said:

"we trade at a lot of vintage shows, re-enactors fairs, rock and roll festivals etc and you need a name that will stick in peoples minds so the do not forget you.

Its a play on "walking in dead men's shoes" The term dead men's shoes probably originated in the Middle Ages when shoes were so expensive, it was quite common place to bequeath them to others."

Hope that helps.

Oh, I understood what it meant. Like I said, it plainly describes what we're buying when we purchase antiques or vintage items.

I've just never seen anyone use it in a product/company description.

I mean, for example, we never think twice about wandering around 'antique stores', do we? I doubt many stores would put a sign out front that says 'Dead peoples personal belongings and home furnishings that their families didn't want to keep' ;-)

I REALLY like those frames! Like I said, those are all I wear, and I look for them all the time in my wanderings.

Regards! Michaelson

Then EXCELLENT deal.

I would have probably ended up boiling then otherwise! LOL.

Come to think of it, so would I KT! ;-)

Regards! Michaelson

Kt Templar wrote:Then EXCELLENT deal.

I would have probably ended up boiling then otherwise! LOL.

Thank you.

And I hope this doesn't make me look completely stupid...

but I don't get the boiling reference...

By the way Michaelson, I never ment to imply that you didn't understand what it meant, it was just that I was just as amazed at the name he chose, appropriate as it might be.

Now everybody have a big laugh, and then please explain the boiling bit?

Joosse, just think Lois Pasteur ;-)

Regards, Geert

Thanks Geert!

I wear a pair of Shuron Ronstrong glasses, which are very similar to Joosse's Algha's.....I purchased them from a website, the Optometrist Attic, and they're very affordable, $72:



http://www.optometristattic.com/7205_Op ... _Attic.htm

Indiana Joosse wrote:Not sure about the ones Henry senior wears, but I managed to score a vintage pair of Algha Panto's off ebay yesterday for 45 pounds.

Algha made Sr.'s frames as well and can be ordered through them.

ANZAC_1915 wrote:Can't wait to get them.

Any news on this? I'm interested in getting a pair myself as I am due for a new pair of frames soon.

Cammer wrote:

ANZAC_1915 wrote:Can't wait to get them.

Any news on this? I'm interested in getting a pair myself as I am due for a new pair of frames soon.

Sorry, I was a bit slack about this. The pictures didn't turn out so well (was too lazy to get out the SLR) but here they are:

case


glasses


note these have been custom bent at temples to fit over my big head -- normally the sides are straight (note specs are 53mm, largest they make) - sorry about focus:


with flash, clearer but they don't really look this light:

Thank you for posting those. They really look great. I'm glad to see that there are still a few pieces of Indy gear that we can get that are still available right from the factory.

Cammer wrote:I'm glad to see that there are still a few pieces of Indy gear that we can get that are still available right from the factory.

And I literally did go to their factory!

Jock,
would you happen to know if Peter is away at present, as I have sent several e-mails to Algha over the past few days to no avail.
Cheers,
JTW.

jones the whip wrote:Jock,
would you happen to know if Peter is away at present, as I have sent several e-mails to Algha over the past few days to no avail.
Cheers,
JTW.

Which email address are you using?

Initially, I used the contact form on his website, then the following day I tried savile.row@algha.co.uk
Cheers,
JTW.

jones the whip wrote:Initially, I used the contact form on his website, then the following day I tried savile.row@algha.co.uk
Cheers,
JTW.

Savile.Row@algha.co.uk is the one Peter is using. He had computer problems last month though.

I just noticed mine don't have chestnut on the arms ---- probably because of the shaping. I'll see what Peter says.

Hmmm - I just tried to email these people two days ago and no response yet. Anyone know whattup?

Thanks!

Considering this information is almost 4 years old, you may need to start a new search.

Regard! Michaelson

darthjones wrote:Hmmm - I just tried to email these people two days ago and no response yet. Anyone know whattup?

Thanks!

I would try calling them. Email was not their strong suit.

Is their phone number available? I need to buy at least two pair of frames. I've sat on my existing pair too many times and the frames are irreversibly damaged.

Indiana MarkVII wrote:Is their phone number available? I need to buy at least two pair of frames. I've sat on my existing pair too many times and the frames are irreversibly damaged.

see first post....

And BTW I was sent an extra pair of arms with the correct chestnut on them. All is well.

ANZAC_1915 wrote:
And BTW I was sent an extra pair of arms with the correct chestnut on them. All is well.

Could you post a pic of the newer arm? I have a pair of Savile Row glasses from Berkshire Chase(made by Algha) in chestnut with rhodium. When they originally sent them they had the thinner non-rolled gold temples. When I sent them in, they returned them with the correct style temples, but they are a solid clear brown rather than the dark/light flecked brown like the frame front. Very annoying. BC is a terrible company to do business with, like they're doing you a favor just answering the phone.



Judging from the Frames Direct website, that may be the way they're done. Tacky if so.