     ========== Click on a photo for the BIG pictures. ==========These classic men's black plastic vintage eyeglass frames are brand new, mint condition and ready for prescription or sunglass lenses. The frame is marked ''52 20'' and the arms read ''Criss U.S.A. 5 3/4 NYLON''. The plastic has a nice sheen with no cracks, crazing or discoloration and the metal decorations shine. This is the Criss Apollo frame, still made today by Criss Optical out of Kansas. They come in all sorts of sizes, but these are 52 - 20 - 5 3/4, a generious size. Criss supplied frames to the US military and still does. Their frames are made of Nylon instead of the usual eyeglasses frame material, which is called ''Zyl'' plastic. Nylon is much, much more flexible than Zyl, which will bend to a point, but then breaks unless heated in a frame warmer. Nylon, on the other hand, can be nearly twisted into a pretzel without breaking!! It comes right back to the original shape, too! These frames are really tough stuff!  The lens width is 2 1/16 inches (52 mm), the bridge is 13/16 inches (20 mm), the arms (also called 'temples') are 5 3/4 inches (146 mm) and lens height is 1 7/16 inches (36 mm). They measure 5 1/16 inches (129 mm) from hinge to hinge and 5 1/2 inches (139 mm) across the full front of the frame. (Please see the 'Tips' section below for more information about measurements.) Two notes about the Criss Apollo frames. First, my price is outstanding! Shop around and you'll find I'm not pulling your leg. Check out the original pamphlet that came with Criss frames back when... part of my little history collection... fun to see (but not part of this auction... sorry about that... in my museum of optical goods!). I'm thorough about condition so there are no surprises and your frames are inspected in detail before leaving promptly and well-packed. They'll make great everyday glasses or some very cool sunglasses. Thanks for taking a look and if you have any questions please use the ''Ask seller a question'' link above. I try to answer all questions promptly. ===============================================#6451You don't have to read all this below here, but there's some useful stuff in there, or so I'm told. Here's the short version: I clean everything I sell, make sure it's in good working order and try hard to find and list any flaws; payment is due w/in 5 days or I must re-list; I combine shipping and accept timely returns. About me and the glasses: I started wearing vintage wire-rimmed glasses 25 years ago and later branched out to plastic and combination frames. I love the old frames and want to share the joy of classic glasses. The craftsmanship is the best, they're made to last ten times longer than contemporary frames and they're works of art, too! I clean all my frames very thoroughly, detail by hand and then give them a good polish. Thorough cleaning means I find flaws and I list whatever I find. Feel free to email with any questions. (I never post questions with names in them, but I do sometimes post answers to generic questions.) If this pair isn't what you're looking for, I might be able to help you find something! ...or check-out all this week's offerings. I love the classic glasses. A few tips: - To check measurements, measure some frames you already have at home and compare measurements. The bridge is measured from the edges of the lenses themselves, not just from the edge of the frame. Hinge-to-hinge is the distance between the temple pivot points and is not across the full front of the frames. Paddle temples (modern-day style arms) are measured to their full length as though they were straightened out. Same for cable temples (that's the kind that wrap around the back of the ear). Don't forget that temples can be adjusted by bending them - that's why they're not measured to the place where they bend. If you need a different temple length, let me know because there's a chance I can switch temples to the size you need!
- Please don't expect your glasses to fit perfectly without a little adjustment. Many opticians do small adjustments free of
charge. Cable temples are flexible and with a little adjustment at home or by your optician, they form to fit your face properly and comfortably. For adjustments to plastic and aluminum frames, an optician warms up the frame and bends it a little to fit your head. If you have special vision requirements and aren't sure about using a vintage frame, check-in with your eyecare professional of choice or feel free to inquire here.
- For filling your prescription, try to find an established, locally-owned optical shop. The 1-hour lens places and discount stores do their own thing well enough, but for vintage frames, find an older shop. The optician will be glad to see someone who appreciates the old frames.
- Check the eBay vintage buying page for some good information on buying vintage on eBay.
Disclaimers: (1) I've measured carefully and tried to get within 1/16 inch, but the measurements are all approximate, unless stated as stamped/engraved on the frame. (2) Though we don't smoke and everything has been cleaned well, I can't promise frames will be free of smoke or other odors because they've been collected from a variety of sources. (3) Unless stated otherwise, the frames are all vintage, all antique and have been previously worn. Unused vintage frames will use terms such as ''unused vintage stock'' or ''new old stock''. Brand new, recently-made frames will be clearly listed as such. (4) Photos and text copyright 2006 - 2009, use permitted by arrangement. Shipping: I've offered a couple of shipping options for USA buyers and can also do express shipping (email for an express quote). I don't cover lost or damaged items, but I do pack well and have had no damage to any shipments to date. USPS insurance is at your option. International: I welcome international buyers and offer reasonable shipping via US mail. If you wish to purchase more than one item and ship them together overseas, please contact me before bidding. Packages usually take under ten days to arrive depdning on where you're located, though customs can sometimes slow down the process. I also ship abroad with tracking and insurance via express mail. Feel free to ask for exact shipping quotes to your location. I don't cover lost or damaged items, but I do pack well and am happy to say I've still had no damage to any international shipments to date. Also note that I only accept PayPal for purchases from outside the US.
                               Thanks for taking a look and if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email or use the ''Ask seller a question'' link at the top right corner of the page.
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