Ray-Ban

DeathGrip · Jul 20, 2012

I've worn R-B Aviators since I can remember.

My newer pairs are plated and flaking at the temples leaving me with some pretty green racing stripes on the side of my head.

I got to thinking that my older pairs never did this. I went on E bay to look at vintage ones and a few were listed as 10k gold filled. Interested, I grabbed an arm and brought it along with me to the pawn shop to test it. It tested 14k.

If this is true I'd like to have my old frames repaired/welded.

Any suggestions? Anyone know of a web site for vintage R-Bs ?

All responses welcome. Tell me your R-B stories. Even the not to serious ones.

Marshwheeling · Jul 20, 2012

An impecunious client once paid his bill with a Mickey Mouse watch and a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarers. The watch caught the eye of a really cute court reporter at a deposition...but that's a story for another day. On a different case, I had to attend a deposition in Los Angeles. I stayed with a family friend who lived in Venice.

So after a day's work, I took a walk on the Venice boardwalk. I was wearing the Wayfarers. A girl with multicolored hair and some extreme facial makeup roller skated up to me and said, "You probably don't even know this, but those are really cool shades."

I started buying and wearing Wayfarers, but they kept snapping at the nose bridge. I guess they didn't like extensive travel pressed inside a motorcycle helmet.

When I was younger I wore Ray-Ban aviators. Reminded me of the colonels in The Battle of Algiers. These days I prefer the smaller aviators with the 52mm lenses from Randolph or American Optical. (They used to cost about the same, but now the Randolphs are about double the AO.)
http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&rh=...ering 52mm Aviator Sunglasses-MILITARY&page=1

speedyquad · Jul 20, 2012

i wear only oakley's. my eyes are sunlight sensitive and they are the only one i can get dark enough for me. i have 6 pair and lost some m frames in the atlantic ocean a few years ago. m frames are my favorite, but quite often wear my half jackets and when it a little more overcast, my square wires.

M29since14 · Jul 20, 2012

I can't help you with any Ray Ban lore relating to the metal frames, though I have worn the brand off and on for many years. I like the more stylish models with plastic frames.

(Sorry, just had to add that.

)

I wonder if you can buy different "grades" of frames, some with better plating than others. Have you checked into that? I seem to remember RBs being available with different types of plating. (Nickel, Silver, Gold, etc.)

Do you suppose RB has taken the path it seems like everyone else has and the new ones are being made in the Orient? If so, quality is probably not going to be as good as when they were made in Italy. Check out the country of origin.

http://www.ray-ban.com/usa/sunglasses?cat=12

DeathGrip · Jul 20, 2012

My current pair are "Gun metal gray". They corroded at the temple. My next older pair are gold plated and also corroded.

I don't know where they were made but all of my old ones say ray ban usa on the bridge. The newest (gun metal) pair don't say anything.

MrAmbassador · Jul 20, 2012

Try to find the manufacturer and see if they offer service. I wear Maui Jim and they guarantee them soup to nuts, just mail them in and the either repair or replace. Good service.

Bullet Bob · Jul 20, 2012

"Got my Wayfarers on"

Stevens · Jul 20, 2012

I wore them for years, large and small lens aviators. When I stared to need prescription glasses I set them aside. There are a few pair in a drawer somewhere. I had cataracts removed from the right eye as soon as they do the left eye I'll try the ray bans out again. I spend a good bit of time on the water so really like polarized lenses I don't know if R.B. makes them or even if R.B. is in business any more.
Steve W.

DeathGrip · Jul 20, 2012

Stevens said:
I wore them for years, large and small lens aviators. When I stared to need prescription glasses I set them aside. There are a few pair in a drawer somewhere. I had cataracts removed from the right eye as soon as they do the left eye I'll try the ray bans out again. I spend a good bit of time on the water so really like polarized lenses I don't know if R.B. makes them or even if R.B. is in business any more.
Steve W.

They do make a polarized lens but I never tried them. I wonder if they are plastic or glass.

I wear cheep polarized lenses for fishing. R-B for everything else.

bshepherd · Jul 20, 2012

I have worn Ray Bans for years. I used to wear Wayfarers, the larger ones. Over the last 8 years I have worn Predators, there are about three different types. all were bought at various PXs in Iraq for ten dollars

a apiece. I probably bought at least a dozen pairs from 2004 to 2007. They were NOS from the B&L days. I have broken a few pairs, given a few away, and I still have half a dozen in the boxes ready for use.

Combat · Jul 20, 2012

I've been looking for a pair of Kali-chrome aviators to replace a some given to me years ago that disappeared. I really liked the yellow tinted lens for shooting. Anyhow, I looked on E-Bay for some and got my feelings hurt by the prices....

DeathGrip · Jul 20, 2012

My Grandfather used to get them at the PX when he worked for Pan Am. He retired in the early 70's.

I just got off of the phone with my Dad and he says he still has some old frames. 14k.

We'll see if he can give them up.

He can't use them anymore.

Are these Wafarers?

M29since14 · Jul 20, 2012

Sure look like 'em.

arjay · Jul 20, 2012

Somewhere around here,I have a pair I bought 40 years ago.Quit wearing them when I got prescription glasses.

max · Jul 20, 2012

There are over 100 pair of aviators on EBAY. I also think if you do a search there is a document that tells you how to tell the fake RayBans.

Damn Yankee · Jul 20, 2012

Years ago in Chili New York Baush and Lomb would open the factory door one weekend a year and the public were allowed to purchase Ray Bans at a good price. Luxottica bought Ray Ban from Baush and Lomb for 640 Million.

Go Here for the history of the Ray Ban.

Ray-Ban - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

PALADIN85020 · Jul 20, 2012

I've been wearing Ray Ban aviators since I was about 16, when I used to associate with a bunch of jackasses:

I still wear them today - I favor the ones with a sweat guard above the nose bridge. Here's me today, taking in a street scene in Bisbee:

I tend to stick with things that seem to work well - that's why I still use Smith & Wesson revolvers, and why I have been married to the same gal for nearly 51 years now!

John

DesertFox · Jul 20, 2012

The retro Ray Ban market is crazy. The types I used to wear are virtually unobtainable and are $750 or more if you can find them.

Large Shooter lenses with dual-gradient mirrored, black frame, ear hooks, circle in the center of brow-bar. Used to pay $60, which was expensive for me in 1980. Well, after half a dozen pair ended up at the bottom of various lakes, I decided that my favorite sunglasses were too heavy and sunk too quickly or my luck with them was just that bad so I swore off them.

Fast forward to 10 years ago or so - I picked up a pair of black framed aviators with ear hooks. Not the same but they were current manufacture and under $100.

Wishing I would have stashed a pair... But I end up wearing my Oakleys or Black Flys most of the time instead.

COL Jagdog · Jul 20, 2012

As a lieutenant, was in Thailand on a joint training mission which included jump training with the Royal Thai Army -- made a jump out of a C-123 at 1750 ft, and the Ray-Ban aviators I was wearing came off with the opening shock of my canopy catching air -- I watched them tumble downwards and had a very rough idea of where they landed on the DZ (which had grass about ankle high) -- thought I would never find them and if I did, they would be useless. There were some young Thai kids on the edge of the DZ from a neighboring village -- I asked a RTA medic to ask the kids if they could help me find my sunglasses -
they fanned out and to my utter amazement, found them (undamaged as the grass had cushioned their fall and I surmise the shape of the lenses slowed them somewhat as they fell to earth). Gave the kids a couple of dollars (worth a lot of baht in those days) -- and still have the RB's.

arjay · Jul 20, 2012

DesertFox said:
The retro Ray Ban market is crazy. The types I used to wear are virtually unobtainable and are $750 or more if you can find them.

Large Shooter lenses with dual-gradient mirrored, black frame, ear hooks, circle in the center of brow-bar. Used to pay $60, which was expensive for me in 1980. Well, after half a dozen pair ended up at the bottom of various lakes, I decided that my favorite sunglasses were too heavy and sunk too quickly or my luck with them was just that bad so I swore off them.

Fast forward to 10 years ago or so - I picked up a pair of black framed aviators with ear hooks. Not the same but they were current manufacture and under $100.

Wishing I would have stashed a pair... But I end up wearing my Oakleys or Black Flys most of the time instead.

I need to find that old pair.I can smell another Smith & Wesson

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