Vintage MacGregor Eyeglass Protectors Lot (2) with Box

This item is from Phil Tuckett’s personal collection.  It took several decades within his career to amass these rare collectibles at events. The highlight is that it includes autographs of the most prominent entertainers, historical figures, and sports players Tuckett met along the way.

Phil Tuckett suited up for a single game for the San Diego Chargers in 1968, and his time as a professional football player consisted of a year-and-a-half spent mostly on the Chargers practice squad. One might surmise that Tuckett’s contribution to professional football was minimal, and they would be correct, until taking into consideration that after retiring as a player Tuckett spent the next 38 years working for NFL films. Tuckett won 30 individual Emmy Awards in 30 years while with NFL films documenting the NFL. Of particular note, Tuckett worked directly with Ed Sabol, the man who started and was a huge part of  NFL Films. 

Presented from Tuckett is a a pair of vintage MacGregor eyeglasses protectors. They include the original box and were G916 model. Each of the pair show mild wear/aging which is wonderful considering vintage. The box also shows some wear from storage/age. For accuracy, this is the same style of eyeglass protector worn by players on the field so it was most likely used as part of a costume in one of Tuckett’s film projects.

Often mistaken for a 19th century baseball catchers mask, these eyeglass protectors were made for multiple sports, polo, field or ice hockey, tennis, basketball, softball, handball etc… A.G. Spalding held one of the earliest patents for the eyeglass protector which was granted in 1909. It was designed for baseball players, and others engaged in similar sports who are obliged to wear glasses. Athletes which were otherwise exposed to the danger of having glasses knocked off, or broken by a ball resulting in an injury being cut by the broken glass.

The first eyeglass protectors produced by Spalding used Loop & Clip constructed frames, similar to the catchers masks made at the time. In 1911 Draper & Maynard introduced the Electric Welded steel wire construction for catchers masks, and by the 1920s eyeglass protectors followed suit. The earliest protectors used the goggle eye feature into the 1940s. In 1941 a patent was filed by Archibald Turner, Assignee for Wilson Sporting goods, for a “Wide-Sight” constructed mask, for better vision.

Vintage MacGregor Eyeglass Protectors