Dollond & Aitchison
Encyclopedia
Dollond & Aitchison are one of the oldest optician
s in the United Kingdom
, having been established in 1750.
opened a small optical business in Vine Street, near Hatton Garden in London. He was joined by his father John Dollond
in 1752. The Dollonds became quite famous for the quality of his optical products. In 1768 John Dollond, now a partner in business, was appointed optician to King George III
and the Duke of York
. In 1781 Peter Dollond made bifocal spectacles.
At the Great Exhibition
1851 in London, Dollonds were awarded a medal for the excellence of their optical instruments.
In 1889, James Aitchinson opened his first business in Fleet Street. In 1927 Dollond & Co merged with Aitchison & Co, established by James Aitchison in 1889 in Fleet Street
, to form Dollond & Aitchison, also shortformed D&A.
In 1969 the company moved to its current location in Aston
, Birmingham
.
During the 1960s
Dolland & Aitchison was a subsidiary
of the former British
television company Television Wales and West. From 1970 until 1982, D&A were successful in a series of acquisitions in the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy. In 1994 however, management buy-outs of the UK, Spanish and Italian companies took place.
In the 1990s, D&A launched a number of services for customers such as in 1996 the introduction of computer analysis for eyesight, the launch of its own website in 1997 and in 1998 its "contact lenses by post" scheme.
The Italian frame manufacturer De Rigo purchased D&A in 1999. In 2001 D&A sold its manufacturer arm to BBGR. In the same year, restructuring of the company took place, consisting of the three wholly owned subsidiaries and holding company.
The company currently employs more than 2,500 staff, including more than 400 opticians. It has approximately 380 branches within the UK, consisting of around 240 group-owned sites and 140 franchises.
On 29 January 2009, it was announced that Boots Opticians
were to merge with D&A, forming a chain of 690 stores and 5,000 staff after Boots purchased a controlling share in D&A.
that between them control 70% of the British market for glasses
and contact lens
es.
Dollond & Aitchison were Royal Warrant
holders and supplied glasses to the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh http://web.archive.org/web/20060417225848/www.danda.co.uk/opticians/about_us/royal.asp.
Optician
An optician is a person who is trained to fill prescriptions for eye correction in the field of medicine, also known as a dispensing optician or optician, dispensing...
s in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, having been established in 1750.
History
On 21 April, 1750, Peter DollondPeter Dollond
Peter Dollond was an English maker of optical instruments, the son of John Dollond. He is known for his successful optics business, and for the invention of the apochromat.-Biography:...
opened a small optical business in Vine Street, near Hatton Garden in London. He was joined by his father John Dollond
John Dollond
John Dollond was an English optician, known for his successful optics business and his patenting and commercialization of achromatic doublets.-Biography:...
in 1752. The Dollonds became quite famous for the quality of his optical products. In 1768 John Dollond, now a partner in business, was appointed optician to King George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
and the Duke of York
Duke of York
The Duke of York is a title of nobility in the British peerage. Since the 15th century, it has, when granted, usually been given to the second son of the British monarch. The title has been created a remarkable eleven times, eight as "Duke of York" and three as the double-barreled "Duke of York and...
. In 1781 Peter Dollond made bifocal spectacles.
At the Great Exhibition
The Great Exhibition
The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations or The Great Exhibition, sometimes referred to as the Crystal Palace Exhibition in reference to the temporary structure in which it was held, was an international exhibition that took place in Hyde Park, London, from 1 May to 15 October...
1851 in London, Dollonds were awarded a medal for the excellence of their optical instruments.
In 1889, James Aitchinson opened his first business in Fleet Street. In 1927 Dollond & Co merged with Aitchison & Co, established by James Aitchison in 1889 in Fleet Street
Fleet Street
Fleet Street is a street in central London, United Kingdom, named after the River Fleet, a stream that now flows underground. It was the home of the British press until the 1980s...
, to form Dollond & Aitchison, also shortformed D&A.
In 1969 the company moved to its current location in Aston
Aston
Aston is an area of the City of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Lying to the north-east of the Birmingham city centre, Aston constitutes an electoral ward within the council constituency of Ladywood.-History:...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
.
During the 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
Dolland & Aitchison was a subsidiary
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
of the former British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television company Television Wales and West. From 1970 until 1982, D&A were successful in a series of acquisitions in the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy. In 1994 however, management buy-outs of the UK, Spanish and Italian companies took place.
In the 1990s, D&A launched a number of services for customers such as in 1996 the introduction of computer analysis for eyesight, the launch of its own website in 1997 and in 1998 its "contact lenses by post" scheme.
The Italian frame manufacturer De Rigo purchased D&A in 1999. In 2001 D&A sold its manufacturer arm to BBGR. In the same year, restructuring of the company took place, consisting of the three wholly owned subsidiaries and holding company.
The company currently employs more than 2,500 staff, including more than 400 opticians. It has approximately 380 branches within the UK, consisting of around 240 group-owned sites and 140 franchises.
On 29 January 2009, it was announced that Boots Opticians
Boots Opticians
- History :The company first began trading in 1983 in Nottingham, before opening practices in Peterborough, Leeds, Mansfield, Luton and Derby in 1984...
were to merge with D&A, forming a chain of 690 stores and 5,000 staff after Boots purchased a controlling share in D&A.
Market share
Dollond & Aitchison is one of the four major UK opticiansUK Opticians (retailers)
In the United Kingdom, businesses that sell prescription spectacles and contact lenses are referred to as 'opticians', after the profession of that name...
that between them control 70% of the British market for glasses
Glasses
Glasses, also known as eyeglasses , spectacles or simply specs , are frames bearing lenses worn in front of the eyes. They are normally used for vision correction or eye protection. Safety glasses are a kind of eye protection against flying debris or against visible and near visible light or...
and contact lens
Contact lens
A contact lens, or simply contact, is a lens placed on the eye. They are considered medical devices and can be worn to correct vision, for cosmetic or therapeutic reasons. In 2004, it was estimated that 125 million people use contact lenses worldwide, including 28 to 38 million in the United...
es.
Dollond & Aitchison were Royal Warrant
Royal Warrant
Royal warrants of appointment have been issued for centuries to those who supply goods or services to a royal court or certain royal personages. The warrant enables the supplier to advertise the fact that they supply to the royal family, so lending prestige to the supplier...
holders and supplied glasses to the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh http://web.archive.org/web/20060417225848/www.danda.co.uk/opticians/about_us/royal.asp.
Literature
- Hugh Barty-King. Eyes right: The story of Dollond & Aitchison opticians 1750-1985. Quiller Press (1986). ISBN 978-0907621690