About Dave

DAVID COX BIOGRAPHY

Leaving school at 15, Dave joined Victor J Optical Crafts in North London in 1961.

Dave's first job was drilling holes in temples for NHS frames, after which he worked his way through the production process – milling grooves, bridge bumping, toric bowing, attaching nosepads, frame polishing, inserting joints etc, mastering each skill over a number of years.

After becoming an accomplished frame maker, in 1988 Dave joined Anglo American where he worked for another decade. It was here he began producing one-off frames for opticians, often in non-standard sizes and colours. 

Dave starting creating frames for Barry Humphries' character Dame Edna Everage, which he continued to do over many years.

Dave’s bespoke frames have also included a replica of the oldest pair of spectacles found in Britain (from the 14th century, found near Trig Lane, London), commissioned by the Museum of London, as well as many more frames for films and television.

One of the last remaining handmade spectacle frame makers in the country, Dave has over fifty years of experience. He continues to produce one-offs and bespokes, by hand, from his workshop in Norfolk, England.

RECENT WORK

More recently Dave has produced frames for high profile motion pictures including the Winston Churchill film, ‘Darkest Hour’ and several frames for the Elton John biopic, ‘Rocketman’.

Some examples of his recent designs can be seen below.