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Temples
Cable Temples     Skull Temples   Cable Conversion Ends
regular silver temples regular silver temples

Temples are the ''arms'' on eyeglasses. They're also called sides, bows, ear pieces, and sometimes even legs. There are two basic styles. The most modern style is called a ''skull temple'' and that's the kind with the paddles at the ends like most all glasses made today. They're called skull, paddle, or even hockey ends. Many old frames have what are called ''cable temples'', which are the kind that wrap around behind the ear. Cable temples are also called wrap temples, curl sides and I keep hearing the term riding bows. In both kinds of temples, there are several different hinge styles, blade sizes and, of course, lengths, usually from 5 1/2 inches (130 mm) up to a very long 7 inches (175 mm). All temples are measured as though they were straightened out. For more details about measuring temples, please see How to Measure for Vintage Eyeglasses. Note that all temple installations typically will require fine-tuning and adjustment. 

If you require a different hinge style than you see shown, other lengths or have any other temple questions, please do inquire. For an idea of some other hinge styles, click here.

Heavy Duty Blade Cable Temples

Heavy duty temple blades are about 1 mm thick, just over 1/32 inch.  Though they sound like they would be extremely thick, they're not. They're called ''heavy duty'' because they were an innovation and replaced what was called a ''regular'' blade temple. (If you don't have a metric ruler, you can also measure with a short stack of copy-paper or sticky-pad notes. A heavy duty temple is about 10 sheets and a regular blade is between 5 and 7 sheets.)

These are gold heavy duty blade temples. They call them 165, but they're actually longer by about 7 mm, so about 173 (6 3/4''). (I have this same model in shorter lengths, too. Feel free to inquire.) They're new temples, not vintage, but they're made by a reputable old maker, Art Craft.
These will fit most heavy-duty bladed vintage frames from the later 1930s onward.
These temples take the 3.0 heat shrink temple covers available here.

Item Number

Item Name

Price

Quantity

Add to cart

7263

Gold 165 A-C HD Cable Temples

$38.00

1 pair

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These are heavy duty blade temples, 6 5/16 inches (161 mm) in a goldtone finish.

They're new temples, not vintage, but they fit most old heavy-duty bladed frames. The quality on these has gotten much better in the last year or so. 

Note for covers: The finial at the temple tip requires the use of the 3 mm heat shrink covers available here. (There are creative alternatives, but the 3 mm approach is the ready-made solution.) 

Item Number

Item Name

Price

Quantity

Add to cart

6450

Cable temples HD 6.3 Gold new

$25.00

1 pair

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These are heavy duty blade temples, 6 5/16 inches (161 mm) in a silvertone finish.

They're new temples, not vintage, but they fit many old frames. 

 The shade is a pretty good match for white gold frames and the quality of these has improved considerably in the last year or so.  

Note for covers: The finial at the temple tip requires the use of the 3 mm heat shrink covers available here. (There are creative alternatives, but the 3 mm approach is the ready-made solution.)

Item Number

Item Name

Price

Quantity

Add to cart

6449

Cable temples  6.3 Silver New

$25.00

1 pair

 

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Regular Blade Cable Temples

The choices shown below all have what's called a ''regular'' blade thickness (about 0.7 mm or 7 sheets of stacked note paper). Regular blade thickness temples were generally used on frames before WWII. After WWII, heavy duty thickness bladed temples become the most common model. 

 

reg_6-5_fine_diag_swirl.jpg (46792 bytes)

This is a 6 inch regular blade silvertone pair. The filigree is a nice, simple repeating triple diagonal. Unused vintage stock, mint condition.

Item Number

Item Name

Price

Quantity

Add to cart

7792

Reg Tpls, 6, silv diag #7792

SOLD OUT

1 pair

SOLD OUT

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If you have any questions about temples or anything else, please don't hesitate to contact me

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Skull Temples

The temples shown below are ''skull'' temples, also called paddle temples, arms, legs or sides with hockey ends. They all have a ''heavy duty'' temple blade thickness which fits most heavy-duty bladed vintage U.S. frames dating from around and after the 1940s. They ship straight, that is, the tips (the paddle section) will not have the bend in them. This allows you or your optician to fit them specifically to your head and your glasses. I can bend them for you if you'll let me know where you would like the bend using the menus provided below. Please note that once bent, they're no longer eligible for refund. 

 

regular silver temples
click for the BIG picture

 These are silver-tone skull temples with a 1 mm hinge blade that fits most heavy-duty bladed vintage frames made from the 1940s onward. As shown, they're 5 3/4'' (145 mm) long and can be trimmed down to any length.

Item Number

Item Name

Price

Add to Cart

7276

Silver Skull Temples**

$18

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regular silver temples
click for the BIG picture

 These are goldtone skull temples with a 1 mm hinge blade that fits most heavy-duty bladed vintage frames made from the 1940s onward. As shown, they're 5 3/4'' (145 mm) long and can be trimmed down to any length.

Item Number

Item Name

Price

Add to Cart

7277

Gold Skull Temples**

$19

 

Silver
regular silver temples
click for the BIG picture

 These are silver skull temples with clear tips.  (Both colors are shown in the photo, but ordered below, you would get a pair of silver ones.) 

They have a 1 mm hinge blade thickness. They fit most heavy-duty bladed vintage wire frames made from the 1940s onward. As shown, they're 5 3/4'' (145 mm) long and can be trimmed down to any length.

Item Number

Item Name

Price

Add to Cart

7280

Silver Skull Temples, Clear Tips**

$20

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Gold
regular silver temples
click for the BIG picture

 These are gold skull temples with clear tips.  (Both colors are shown in the photo, but ordered below, you would get a gold pair.) 

They have a 1 mm hinge blade thickness. They fit most heavy-duty bladed vintage wire frames made from the 1940s onward. As shown, they're 5 3/4'' (145 mm) long and can be trimmed down to any length.

Item Number

Item Name

Price

Add to Cart

7281

Gold Skull Temples, Clear Tips**

$21

Not currently available.

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** 

 

Only skull temples that are straight (are not bent) are eligible for refund. Trimmed and/or bent, temples are not eligible for return.

 

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Cable Conversion Ends

regular silver temples
click for the BIG picture

This is what's called a cable-conversion end, a contemporary way of making a skull temple into a cable or ''wrap-around'' temple. Cut the skull temple to a selected length and push the conversion end on. 

They're plastic, as opposed to cable, but they get the job done. The wire diameter on the temples should be approximately 1.25 to  1.75 millimeters for these ends. 

regular silver temples
Cable ends shown on a frame for reference
click for the BIG picture

cable temple conversion ends, brown

I keep them in black (as shown on the frames above) and brown. 

Item Number

Item Name, Color

Price

Add to cart

7757

Cable Conversion Ends, Black

$9

 

7758

Cable Conversion Ends, Brown

$9

Note: These are not cable temple covers.  Cable temple covers can be found here. My detailed instructions for installation will be emailed with your shipment confirmation.

 

If you have any questions about temples or anything else, please don't hesitate to contact me.   

 

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