Replacement Cable Temples For Eyeglasses

Replacement Cable Temple arms for Windsor, Wire Rim Glasses, and Riding Temple

The eyeglasses cable temple was introduced in 1885 and remained popular until after WWII. It was the go-to temple for most round eyeglass frames of the era. The Windsor style of vintage eye glasses is one of the most popular styles ever made. Cable temple glasses remained in constant use from 1880 until 1960 in various countries around the world. They were popular in the US from 1880 until 1929. The stock market crash of 1929 put many of the makers of this style out of business. The Marshwood style was introduced in 1921 and remained popular until 1950. The US military issued this style to troops during WWII. The military name for this style was P3 glasses.

Vintage replacement cable temples for eyeglasses are hard to find in useable condition. We carry glasses temples in thicknesses .026 and .045. The size .045 is also available with engravings. Generally, the Marshwood style and WWII Military issue eyeglass frames were engraved. It is rare to find a Windsor frame that is engraved. We have both yellow gold-filled, and white gold-filled replacement cable temples for eyeglass frames. Steel was the most popular material used in eyeglasses back in the day and therefore most of our replacement temples are in this material. The material affected the glasses’ colors as well, since steel frames were generally gold and silver and most colors could only be introduced with the use of plastic which started after WWII.

All Marshwood frames, all P3 frames, and a few Windsor frames need the .045 size. Generally, eyeglasses sizes have evolved over the last 300 years. The .026 size has also grown to the .045 over the years.

These also work for vintage sunglasses.

Our replacement temples are suitable for people with existing vintage frames. If you are new to eyewear please see our page on How To Know If You Need Glasses, or our page on the most suitable frames for your face shape.

There is a difference between American-made and English-made vintage frames with regard to their cable temple replacement.  English and most European Windsors use a different style of cable temple end.  

These work as wire rim glasses cable temples as well as for rimless glasses.
The blade end of cable temples comes in two sizes, .026 and .045 thousands of an inch. All riding temple frames need the 0.26 size. More than ninety percent of Windsor frames need the .026 size. 

Check Out our glasses measurements page for more details on how the size of eyeglasses has been growing over the past 300 years.