Optical Pioneers
John McAllister...from canes to frames
By Joseph L. Bruneni

John McAllister left his native Scotland for America a year before the Revolutionary War began. Upon his arrival here, he started selling whips and canes out of a small store in Philadelphia just blocks from where Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence.

In spite of these humble beginnings, he became a man of science and helped found the optical industry. His career typifies how the ophthalmic professions and the optical industry developed in the U.S.

A portrait of John McAllister, painted by James Peale in 1812

As the country grew and prospered, so did McAllister. Adding spectacles to his inventory in 1799, he took a keen interest in this new line. At the time, eyewear was imported ready-made and sold by peddlers and merchants.

McAllister was the first to recognize that glasses were not merchandise like whips and canes. He started a factory to produce whips, canes, and spectacle frames. The frames were low priced and made of iron, tortoise shell, or plated metal.

His son John joined the firm in 1811, and the firm prospered. John Jr. became a partner, and the firm became John McAllister and Son.

About 1815, McAllister began expanding his line, producing silver and gold spectacles. "The silver were heavy sliding sides weighing nearly a dollar," he wrote a friend.

NOTABLE CUSTOMERS

Philadelphia was the nation's capital at this time, and George Washington became a good customer. Spectacles were also made for Thomas Jefferson from drawings furnished by the commander-in-chief himself.

Grandson William McAllister described them in his diary, "The glasses were not larger than a 10-cent piece and were much used by Jefferson's personal friends in Virginia...John Randolph of Roanoke and Presidents Madison and Monroe were often customers."

Instead of customers choosing their own glasses, McAllister began conducting rudimentary eye examinations. And, working with the Wills Hospital, McAllister helped to train a generation of medical practitioners in refracting.

GRINDING CYLINDER

In 1828, McAllister made history by grinding a cylinder lens--a first in the U.S., making it possible for the first time to correct astigmatism.

McAllister died in 1830, but the company was operated by his son, and then his grandson, and survived well into the 20th century under a variety of McAllister names--a remarkable record and worthy testimonial to John McAllister, a true optical pioneer.