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In the 19th century, the precise natural sciences experienced an enormous upswing. Even in the twenties and thirties, the science of light and the theory of optical imaging were placed on a sound foundation. One of the most successful researchers in this field – and not only in theory – was Joseph von Fraunhofer (1787-1826). We have him to thank for the creation of what is now the most common optical lens system with chromatic error correction – known as the Achromat system – and for basic knowledge on the diffraction of light. However, astronomy was the main field of Fraunhofer’s activities, and at that time nobody had yet contemplated the direct utilization of knowledge for the production of microscopes.
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| Carl Zeiss | Ernst Abbe | Otto Schott | August Köhler |
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In this period of innumerable technical advances, a mechanic set up his own business in the university town of Jena in Thuringia in east Germany: Carl Zeiss. This young man set himself the goal of providing researchers with high-quality instruments. Today, we would say he saw a niche in the market and wanted to make use of it. Between 1846 and 1866, microscopes of equally high quality were built in his workshop in accordance with very strict rules of craftsmanship.
In the beginning, these were very simple instruments which were used as dissection microscopes, but in 1857 the first “genuine” microscope, i.e. equipped with an eyepiece and an objective, left the Zeiss workshop: the “Stativ 1”. This instrument combined practical functionality with the skilled quality provided by a craftsman.
After almost 20 years, Carl Zeiss was already employing about 20 qualified staff and took great pleasure in what had become a flourishing business. He had every reason to be satisfied. However, as an entrepreneur, he felt that more was possible and that he could not simply sit back and enjoy what he had achieved. He knew that his instruments were good, but he refused to accept the trial and error method used at the time for the production of optics. And he knew that the competition never sleeps.
His aim was to create reproducible products in his workshop. This made it necessary to base the production procedure on precise rules. His wish: “The working hand should have no other function than to precisely implement the shapes and dimensions of all the design components determined beforehand by computation.”
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