# Fake X-Ray glasses?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-x-ray-glasses/223771>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 10, 2004, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-x-ray-glasses/223771 "2004-01-10T03:01:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-x-ray-glasses/223771/1 "2004-01-10T03:01:05Z")

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Hi,  
I was wondering if people could tell me about fake X-Ray Glasses, like these:  
[http://www.gagworks.com/gwp\_0500.htm](http://www.gagworks.com/gwp_0500.htm)  
It says:

> [@](#):
>
> You won’t believe your eyes! Makes you think you see the bones in your hand! Great effect that makes it look like seeing through clothing!

I was wondering what they’re made of, and what it looks like when you can see your bones or through clothing… I think I read somewhere that they use feathers…

[http://www.mutantreviewers.com/rtheylive.html](http://www.mutantreviewers.com/rtheylive.html)  
This says:

> [@](#):
>
> …lovingly crafted out of prime cardboard stock, with two little holes punched in them for viewing.

I think he then says that he couldn’t really see much at all using the glasses.

[http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2978841933](http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2978841933)

> [@](#):
>
> Guaranteed to have people AMAZED!! You won’t believe your eyes! See the bones in your hand…hold up an egg and see the yolk! Makes it seem like you can even see through clothing!!

That link shows a closer picture of the glasses.

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**Author:** ![Papermache\_Prince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@Papermache\_Prince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Papermache_Prince)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-x-ray-glasses/223771/2 "2004-01-10T03:22:53Z")

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[The Real Secret Behind X-Ray Specs](http://www.olywa.net/blame/how/how4.htm) also ascribes the effect to a feather.

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**Author:** ![hermann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b487fb/32.png) [@hermann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hermann)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-x-ray-glasses/223771/3 "2004-01-10T03:38:48Z")

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My brother (yeah, that’s it) ordered these out of the back of a comic book a long long time ago and, yes, it was a piece of feather as a “lens”. BTW, they didn’t really work.

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**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-x-ray-glasses/223771/4 "2004-01-10T03:39:40Z")

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Cool, thanks for that link!