Kemper
An iconic rounded panto with keyhole bridge balancing retro elegance and featherweight balance for universal patient fit.
Artisanal Production & Legacy
Five Generations of Optical Mastery, Refined for Modern Independent Optometry
Erkers1879 is our flagship in-house heritage collection, representing over 145 years of continuous optical engineering and family stewardship. Conceived in St. Louis, Missouri, each frame balances classic architectural proportions with contemporary ergonomics.
Every frame is manufactured with the highest optical precision, pairing custom-cured organic cellulose acetate with authentic rivet hardware, German-engineered multi-barrel hinges, surgical-grade stainless steel, and pure Japanese titanium.
Named after historic districts in and around St. Louis, each release embodies a milestone of American design history. An authentic emblem is embedded in every right temple tip, serving as a subtle hallmark of authentic optical craftsmanship.
Material Standard Eco-friendly Cellulose Acetate & Titanium
Mechanical Precision Hand-Riveted Dual & Multi-Barrel Hinges
Design Legacy Named for St. Louis Architectural History
Dispensing Quality Silky Hand-Polished Tumbler Finish
Dispensing Hallmarks
Best-Selling Wholesale Optical Profiles
Proven practice favorites that deliver exceptional fit stability, easy adjustability at the dispensing counter, and high patient loyalty.
Blackjack
A tailored rectangular silhouette boasting bold beveled acetate lines, robust wire cores, and rich tortoiseshell depth.
Truman
Classic square geometry engineered with refined bridge tapering and ergonomic paddle temples tailored for all-day wearing ease.
Historic Emblems
Signature Temple Emblems & Heritage Collections
Each Erkers 1879 collection carries a story cast into the gold temple tip, connecting patients to genuine milestones of craftsmanship.
Roman Numeral V
Commemorating the 5th generation of family leadership under Jack III and Tony Erker, with founding year engravings on each inner temple hinge.
The STL Flag
An homage to downtown St. Louis where the company was born in 1879, stamped with the heraldic waves of the confluence of two historic rivers.
Transatlantic
In 1927, Charles Lindbergh made history on the first nonstop transatlantic flight wearing specialized protective goggles engineered by the Erker family.
The Trumpet
Dedicated to the soul of St. Louis jazz culture and visionary musicians like Miles Davis, reflecting improvisational energy and fluid design lines.
The Microphone
A nod to broadcasting pioneers and entertainment legends who wore Erkers frames, including sports commentator Harry Caray.
The Lion
Inspired by the carved stone lions guarding the historic Frisco Building in St. Louis, which served as our optical workshop for over a century.
The Ferris Wheel
Honoring our role as official optical photographers for the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, where the world marvelled at modern structural engineering.
The Goggles
Celebrating our ancestry of developing specialized corrective and protective glass optics for open-cockpit aviation over nine decades ago.
Editorial Lookbook
Erkers 1879 in Practice
Curated optical and sun designs tailored to independent boutique dispensary boards.
Men's Heritage Optical 
Refined Feminine Silhouette 
Sunwear Collection 
Architectural Beveling