Art-Craft opened its doors on February 18, 1918, making us the oldest ophthalmic metal frame manufacturer in the United States. Our founder, Charles J. Eagle, was originally a Swiss tool maker and his total focus became the production of only the finest quality frames for the eyewear industry. From our Rochester, NY manufacturing base, and throughout the decades, the company’s leadership as the industry standard has endured and is most evident in the tens of millions of frames produced by the company’s skilled employees. Now, as the third generation of the Eagle family leads the company, it continues to evolve in an ever-changing landscape of customer demand, well into the next hundred years.
Our dedication to quality started in the earliest years of gold-filled classic metals, pince-nez and full frame construction, on through the eras of metal and zyl combination frames. Then production grew into all aluminum frames, acetate and metal trim acetate, to then developing fashionable RX safety frames in the nineties, and through it all, our rich tradition of quality always stayed true. We simultaneously answered the call to supply frame products to our Armed Forces in WWI, WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War and all current conflicts. And when the demand for exceptional strength and dependability to withstand the in-cockpit environments of high G tolerance in our supersonic fighter aircraft, Art-Craft was called on to design and manufacture their top of the line eyewear.
How have we maintained our “American Made” expertise? As outsourcing components and manufacturing functions displaced the vast majority of legitimate US frame manufactures, Art-Craft has always invested in expanding its own in house capabilities. That lead us to installing the finest 3D eyewire machines, electrophoretic coating tanks and drying ovens. To keep up with growing fulfillment, computerized bar-code packaging and electronic assembly devices all added to preserving the production of our classic eyewear.
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Made in America
The only American full line metal frame manufacturer for the safety and dress market. Military grade precision goes into every frame. With our designers in-house, you’re guaranteed to get the right fit.
Capabilities include: 3D eyewire forming, induction soldering, E-coat plating, metal finishing, product ID stamping and bar-code packaging. In-house pre-dry ovens, baking ovens, stamping machine and six stage tumbling barrels.
What sets us apart
With a wealth of experience in superior craftsmanship and ophthalmic quality over a century in the making, Art-Craft Optical uses only highest grade Monel and Stainless Steel in our metal frames.
Our electrophoresis-coating coloring are to exacting military specification standards. We engage in voice-of-the-customer feedback using focus group testing for shapes, designs, colors, sizes, full metal, semi-rimless, milled metal and acetate selections.
100 years in the military
For over 100 years all branches of the US Military have contracted with Art-Craft Optical to provide superior quality frames. Frames that withstand the most demanding situations and harshest conditions. Art-Craft was the only optical frames supplier that could meet the rigorous standards of the Military during the Gulf War. After all others failed, they came to us to specially design battle-ready and durable frames that would not break. To this day, we supply these frames with an unheard of Zero % defect rate.