X-Ray Specs
Illustration — A 1964 advertisement for X-ray specs that falsely promises the ability to see through skin and clothing X-ray specs or X-ray glasses are an American novelty item, purported to allow users to see through or into solid objects. In reality, the spectacles merely create an optical illusion; no X-rays are involved. The current paper version is sold under the name "X-Ray Spex"; a similar product is sold under the name "X-Ray Gogs".
Also recorded as X-ray glasses
X-Ray Specs
![1964 newspaper ad for X-ray specs. There are several versions; earliest I can find lacks the woman, from March 15 [1], different version with different woman in April [2]. This version seems to have first appeared June 13 [3] [4]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/X-Ray_Specs_advertisement.jpg/608px-X-Ray_Specs_advertisement.jpg)
Honor House Productions Corp. · this version from The Austin American, June 14, 1964, p. 15 of family life section), (first file version from The Sacramento Union, also syndicated family life section on same page · Public domain
- Field
- novelty item · toy
- Related practice
- plastic · cardboard · feather
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Documentary summary
Illustration — A 1964 advertisement for X-ray specs that falsely promises the ability to see through skin and clothing X-ray specs or X-ray glasses are an American novelty item, purported to allow users to see through or into solid objects. In reality, the spectacles merely create an optical illusion; no X-rays are involved. The current paper version is sold under the name "X-Ray Spex"; a similar product is sold under the name "X-Ray Gogs".
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q8041519 · wikipedia · X-ray specs
In this article
Identity
Identity
X-Ray Specs is classified as a novelty item or toy.
Chronology
Dated record
Chronology
Explore 2019–2023
The full dated record · 3 entries
2019
Mia Mayhem Gets X-Ray Specs (4 catalogued editions) (2019) is digitised and catalogued by Open Library.
2021
Chocolate Milk, X-Ray Specs and Me! EBOOK (2021) is digitised and catalogued by Open Library.
2023
X-Ray Specs and Other Vintage Ads (2023) is digitised and catalogued by Open Library.
Description
X-Ray Specs consist of an over-sized pair of spectacles with plastic or cardboard frames and white cardboard "lenses" printed with concentric red circles and emblazoned with the legend "X-RAY VISION". The "lenses" consist of two layers of thin cardboard with a small hole about a quarter-inch (6 millimeters) in diameter punched through both layers. The user views objects through the holes. In the original version, a feather is embedded between the layers of each lens. The vanes of the feathers are so close together that light is diffracted, causing the user to receive two slightly offset images. For instance, if viewing a pencil, one would see two offset images of the pencil. Where the images overlap, a darker image is obtained, giving the illusion that one is seeing the graphite embedded within the body of the pencil. Newer versions utilize manufactured diffraction lenses instead of feathers. X-Ray Specs were patented by Harold von Braunhut, also the inventor of Amazing Sea-Monkeys.
Primary material
Digitised editions and texts
X-ray specs (2000) — Open Library
Chocolate Milk, X-Ray Specs & Me!
X-Ray Specs and Other Vintage Ads (2023) — Open Library
Chocolate Milk, X-Ray Specs and Me!
Primary material
Documents and archives
Institutional database
- arXiv, Cornell University, preprints naming “X-Ray Specs”
Scholarly · arXiv (Cornell University)
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q8041519: X-Ray Specs
General reference · Wikidata
reference work
- “X-ray specs”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Literature
Scholarly footprint
A count of publications is evidence of attention, not of standing, and is given here only as a measure.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Nostalgia Central. X-Ray Spex (Specs). 21 July 2014.
- 2.Lisa Hix. Sea Monkeys and X-Ray Spex: Collecting the Bizarre Stuff. Collectors Weekly. April 18, 2012.
- 3.Nostalgia Central. X-Ray Glasses: Fact or Fiction?. 2 April 2014.
- 4.Brott, Tamar. The Sea Monkeys and the White Supremacist. Los Angeles Times. 1 October 2010.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
Institutional database
arXiv, Cornell University, preprints naming “X-Ray Specs”arXiv (Cornell University)
Institutional witnessauthority record
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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