"The Original Pilot" Sunglasses - Black

American Optical was founded in 1833. After starting out mainly developing optical lenses, AO began producing sunglasses in Southbridge, Massachusetts in 1876. American Optical is therefore rightly regarded as the world's first sunglass manufacturer. In 1913, AO applied for a patent for UV protection together with the scientist William Crookes.

World War I: When the US entered the war in 1917, the US Army turned to American Optical to equip the Allied troops. American Optical sent eight mobile units with development machines into the field to meet the demand for spectacle frames, corrective lenses and sunglasses. Two metal frames called "Liberty" and "Victory" were produced in quantities of 2.5 million to support the war effort.

World War II: American Optical continued to develop new optical products in its research laboratories. The Southbridge factory produced precision telescopic sights, bomb guidance systems and aviator masks and goggles such as the iconic G2 aviator goggles. Between 1943 and 1944, a total of 10 million frames, 6.5 million lenses and over 5 million pairs of sunglasses were supplied to the armed forces. In 1946, American Optical's contribution to the war effort was so great that the company was honored with the "Army Navy E Award" for its dedication to the national cause.

AO and the "Aviator" glasses:

American Optical received a military contract from November 1941 for its aviator D1 eyewear model, which had already been developed in 1935, and later for the Aviator G2, codenamed AN 6531, which very quickly replaced it in 1942. The Aviator G2 was the only Aviator eyewear supplied to the US Air Force during the Second World War.

The development of the Original Pilot in 1958:

American Optical developed the HGU-4/P, also known as the Original Pilot, at the request of the US Air Force. The goal was to replace the G2, which had become obsolete due to technological advances. The Original Pilot was initially produced for US Army pilots to provide them with maximum protection, optical performance and comfort. The standard 20 mm nose bridge made it possible to wear a gas mask at the time, while the right temples, the so-called "bayonet", made it easier to wear a helmet and thus prevented possible ear injuries in the event of a crash.

The first glasses on the moon:

The Original Pilot was the first pair of glasses on the moon. They were worn by Commander Neil Armstrong and the crew of Apollo 11 on July 21, 1969. A historical specimen can be found in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington DC.

Nowadays:

The Original Pilots are popular with all US troops, infantry, cavalry pilots and, of course, Air Force pilots. Even today, the Original Pilot is still manufactured and assembled entirely in the AO factory in Vernon Hills, Illinois, USA, and is under military contract.

They have become cult objects thanks to numerous actors such as Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle in "Taxi Driver", Robert Duvall as Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore in "Apocalypse Now" or, most recently, Jon Hamm as Don Draper in the series "Mad Men".

Shipping to Switzerland and Liechtenstein

Free priority shipping on orders over SFr. 100. Orders are typically shipped the same day or the next business day (if ordered after 3 p.m.). Excludes Mondays (our day off).

Shipping to the EU

We ship packages internationally via UPS. The total price, including shipping costs, customs duties, and VAT, will be displayed during the final step of the checkout process before you complete your purchase. All fees are already paid here in the store; nothing is due upon delivery (DDP – Delivered Duty Paid).

returns

You can return most items for a full refund within 14 days of delivery. The prerequisite is that the items are returned in new condition (i.e., unworn, unwashed, with all tags attached, etc.). We will cover the return shipping costs if the return is due to an error on our part (you received the wrong item or a defective item, etc.).

You can expect to receive your refund within one to two weeks after the package is delivered to the post office/UPS, but in many cases, it will be faster. This timeframe includes the time it takes for us to receive your return from the carrier (1–3 business days), the time it takes for us to process your return after receipt (1 business day), and the time your bank, credit card company, Postfinance, Twint, etc., need to process our refund request (immediately up to 10 business days).

If you wish to return an item, please indicate whether you would like a refund or an exchange.

Availability in the online store

All items available for order are generally in stock and can be shipped immediately. If there are any errors, you will be notified right away.

In-store availability

Most, but not all, of the items featured in the online store are also in stock at the physical store. Motorcycle clothing may be put into storage during the winter due to space constraints, just as heavy sweaters, coats, and fall/winter hats may be put into storage during the summer.

Individual items and items on sale are also often in stock.

Red Wing and other shoes are available in the store year-round.

It's best to read a brief overview of a specific article before visiting it.

Items not available

Are you interested in an out-of-stock item? We’d be happy to let you know if and when we expect to receive a new shipment.