The introduction of the S9 military frames in the United States marked a significant advancement in the design and functionality of eyewear for the armed forces. These frames represented a blend of cutting-edge technology, durability, and comfort.

American ‘GI glasses’ were initially issued during WWII based on a model used by the British Army, a wire frame with cable temples designed to fit into a gas mask. After the war, metal was replaced with cellulose acetate in a variety of frame shapes, like the smoke grey rounded square model of the 1960s.

The 1970s saw the arrival of the S9. The S9 military frames were revolutionary in their design. Unlike the more fragile eyewear of previous decades, the S9 frames were crafted from high-strength materials that could withstand the rigors of military life. These materials included advanced polymers and lightweight metals that were not only durable but also flexible, allowing the frames to endure rough handling and extreme environmental conditions.

The distinctive silhouette remains noticeably of the period. An oversize square with graphic bridge and lug details, punctuated with double dot pins. Nicknamed RPGs (regulation prescription glasses) by the soldiers who wore them, they remained in use for over three decades.

Though unpopular among the GIs assigned to wear them, RPGs found a resurgence among civilians in the 1990s alongside other military surplus garments. Today, original military issue S9 frames are a sought-after collector’s item.

The Cubitts Workshop set to work recreating a pair of sunglasses from the Oliver Spencer archive, itself modelled on the S9.

A refined version of the square silhouette with a sculptural hand-chamfered browline, formed, grooved, and polished in Black, Embers, and Rust acetates. Paddle temples are engraved with the coordinates to Oliver Spencer HQ, and the frames finished in the Lab with ZEISS ClearView sun lenses.

Conduit, named after Lamb’s Conduit Street, is available in a limited run exclusively fromOliver Spencer.