‘Fits U’ eye preservers, United States, 1914-1916

Coil spring eye preservers used by munition workers, made by American Optical Co., with packet, American, 1914-1916

‘Fits U’ eye preservers protected the eyes of munitions workers. They are made of rustproof metal and can be adjusted to fit all face shapes. Wire meshing on the arms protected the wearer from flying objects.

To meet the need for armaments, many factories during the First World War (1914-1918) were converted to make shells and ammunition. Many munitions workers were women because men were away fighting. They were often visible in a crowd because of their yellow hair and skin, caused by the sulphur used in the production process. They were nicknamed ‘canaries’. This example was made by American Optical Corporation.