variable-density goggles
Date1945
Inventory NumberWJ1143
ClassificationGoggles
Subject
Manufacturer
American Optical Company
1833-present
Manufacturer
Polaroid Corporation
1937-present
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensionsgoggles without strap: 6.2 × 14.6 × 6.6 cm (2 7/16 × 5 3/4 × 2 5/8 in.)
case: 8.3 × 15.7 × 10 cm (3 1/4 × 6 3/16 × 3 15/16 in.)
case: 8.3 × 15.7 × 10 cm (3 1/4 × 6 3/16 × 3 15/16 in.)
Material
Accessoriesextra red plastic visors (2); instruction sheet
DescriptionAmber-tinted goggles with olive green strap and removable red plastic visor. Red plastic visor made by Polaroid. Visors and goggles stored in an olive green tin case, most likely designed for military use. The kit is complete.
In Collection(s)
Signedon hinge: American Optical Co.
on hinge: FILTERS BY POLAROID CORP.
Inscribedon enveloppes: STOCK No: 74-V-3500 / VISOR, PLASTIC, RED, / GOGGLE, VARIABLE-DENSITY
on case cover: Stock No. 74-G-79-40 / GOGGLE, VARIABLE-DENSITY / COMPLETE / CONTENTS: ONE SET
in pencil on label on lid: 198
FunctionOne can read on the cover of the instruction sheet: "The Variable-Density Google provides a goggle for tracking a target in the vicinity of and across the face of the sun. It is equipped also with a red plastic visor for observing tracer bullets under various conditions of sunlight and brightness."
ProvenancePsychology Department, William James Hall, Harvard University.
According to an e-mail message from Rand Evans, 20 October 1999 "The Goggles belonged to Eddie Newman in the Psychology Department. He probably used them in classroom demonstrations. They were used in visual research, though which specific research I couldn't tell you. Probably dates from the 1970s bit it is hard to tell."
Polaroid Corporation
Date: 1939-1945
Object number: 2004-1-0479
Polaroid Corporation
Date: circa 1940
Object number: 2004-1-0481
Polaroid Corporation
Date: 1975-1980
Object number: 2004-1-0114
Polaroid Corporation
Date: 1965-1969
Object number: 2004-1-0132c
Polaroid Corporation
Date: 1963-1971
Object number: 2004-1-0135
Polaroid Corporation
Date: 1965-1969
Accessories: case (2004-1-0132b); "goggles" and diffuser (2004-1-0132c)
Object number: 2004-1-0132a
Polaroid Corporation
Date: 1971-1974
Accessories: box (2004-1-0129b); instruction manuals (2, in object file)
Object number: 2004-1-0129a
Polaroid Corporation
Date: 1971-1974
Accessories: box (2004-1-0130b); instruction manuals (2, in object file)
Object number: 2004-1-0130a