Carl Zeiss, German Instrument Maker

Carl Zeiss (September 11, 1816 - December 3, 1888) was a German scientific instrument maker, optician and businessman who founded the workshop of Carl Zeiss in 1846. He gathered a group of practical and theoretical opticians and glass makers to reshape most aspects of optical instrument production. His collaboration with Ernst Abbe revolutionized optical theory and practical design of microscopes. Their quest to extend these advances brought Otto Schott into the enterprises to revolutionize optical glass manufacture. The firm of Carl Zeiss grew to one of the largest and most respected optical firms in the world. One final accomplishment was guiding the internal reorganization and transformations of a workshop into a major enterprise. Only this transformation made it possible to produce microscopes in large numbers with highest precision. The driving force behind the expansion was Ernst Abbe, but Zeiss had the final say and supported the efforts to the fullest. Zeiss was able to attend the celebration on the occasion of the completion of the 10, 000th microscope on September 24, 1886. It was a lavish party remembered in Jena for decades. After several strokes he died in 1888 at the age of 72. No photographer credited, undated

Restrictions Only for Ireland and United Kingdom

1816 Microscope Optical Optician Optics Zeiss

Features In These Collections

> Contributors > PHR