Old vs. New

We’ve all heard the old saying, “They don’t make ‘em like they used to”.  Ray Ban Wayfarers have been around since before I was born, which gives us a good opportunity to test that old saying.  I cannot think of another style of sunglasses that’s been in production for, literally, decades.  That’s quite an accomplishment considering the fickle & disposable American fashion sense.  How did it happen? 

From Wikipedia: “Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses have been manufactured by Ray-Ban since 1956, when their design was a revolutionary break from the metal eyewear of the past. Wayfarers enjoyed early popularity in the 1950s and 1960s. Though the sunglasses had faded from the limelight by the 1970s, a lucrative 1982 product placement deal brought Wayfarers to their height of popularity. Since the mid-2000s, the sunglasses have been enjoying a revival.”

An American company gets bought out, tastes and times change, and products evolve.  To stay current, a product HAS to evolve, right?  Here – we examine exactly what those changes amount to. 

The two tone Wayfarers are a current model, the black ones are at least as old as I am.

In the top left – notice the branding on the temple.  Apparently, we didn’t always have to have labels!  Also note the change in the joint geometry – the new pair has much more material on the main frame’s corner with a square joint to the temple arm.  The older pair has much less frame material and a 45 degree mitre cut.

Next row down – the printing on the inside of the temple arm not only discloses the country of manufacture, but the new pair has printing so smooth you can’t feel it, while the old pair has printing that’s stamped into the plastic.

Bottom row – perhaps the most telling difference is the quality of the hinge.  Look at the old pair, how many fingers overlap in that hinge!  That’s a seven finger hinge – compared to the new pair having just a three finger hinge.

Now note the two pictures with the side by side comparisons on the right hand side.  The top picture shows how the shape has evolved, and the bottom picture shows us more branding.  Again, part of the difference is how the marking is applied – the newer pair has the Ray Ban script printed on the (plastic?) lens, and the older pair has the Bausch & Lomb logo etched in the glass.