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The enterprise continued to evolve. Ernst Abbe became an equal partner of Zeiss: intelligence became the inherent capital of the young company. In his later years, Abbe became equally famous as an entrepreneur of historic importance, as a social reformer and as a scientist. All on the basis of the prosperity that he made possible as a scientist.
The endeavor to innovate was continued with unflagging determination. The theory created by Abbe predicted that even more success would be possible if scientists could comprehend the properties of the types of glass used. In other words: he did not only wish to accept what was available, but wanted to actually create what was needed.
Eventually, Abbe found the third member of the trio: Otto Schott, the glass chemist. Once again, someone who wanted to depart from well – trodden paths – and who was also capable of doing so. His subsequent, large-scale test series to find new glass types and determine their properties cost a fortune. In the end, success was achieved. And it extended far beyond the bounds of microscopy: it also led to the founding of the Jenaer Glaswerk Schott & Genossen.
In the field of microscopy, Abbe’s theoretical prediction became reality in 1886. The creation of the Apochromat objectives with and without immersion meant the end of the development work for the time being.
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