Carl Zeiss biography
ZEISS Archives ZEISS Archiv

Who was Carl Zeiss?

A biography.

Carl Zeiss was born on 11 September 1816 in the German town of Weimar. He built microscopes in Jena from 1846 onward. Together with Ernst Abbe, he succeeded in placing the construction of microscopes on a scientific foundation. This was the basis of today's global player ZEISS.

Find out more about company founder Carl Zeiss and his life.

Zeiss's ancestors

The road from Buttstädt to Weimar

Carl Zeiss’s ancestors lived in small towns near Weimar. They worked as craftsmen, civil servants and pastors.

Ancestors
  • Wikimedia Commons/public domain

    Buttstädt, view from 1650, engraving by Matthäus Merian.

    Zeiss's ancestors

    To the extent that we are able to trace Zeiss’s family tree, we can see that its members were based primarily in a handful of small communities to the north of Weimar, most of them in Rastenberg and Buttstädt. The family were Protestants through and through, which is hardly surprising in this part of Germany.

    Most of the men in the family were craftsmen by trade. For five generations until the Thirty Years' War, Carl Zeiss's ancestors were wood turners.

    Their wives came from a somewhat further area, but no further than Zwickau, Weida and Hof. The women who joined the family were normally daughters of civil servants, pastors and, of course, craftsmen.

  • Friederike Zeiss
    ZEISS Archives

    Friederike Zeiss

    Zeiss's parents

    Friederike Schmith (1786–1856) was the daughter of a Buttstädt town magistrate and ducal court advocate. As such, she was a favorable match for the craftsman August Zeiss (1785-1849) as she introduced him to the glittering world of the bourgeoisie and the educated classes.

    August Zeiss had inherited the craft of ‘horn turner’ and subsequently of ‘art turner’ from his father. Despite his interest in science, he only ever received a basic education. Since both August and his older brother Friedrich remained loyal to the craft of wood turning, when he married in 1808 August moved to Weimar, where he was granted citizenship at the age of 23. August Zeiss initially lived and worked at Töpfenmarkt square (today's Herderplatz square). He then turned his attention to the production of and trade in smoking accessories. In 1829, he was given the title of court wood turner. August Zeiss was one of the founding fathers of the Weimar Trade Association and was its first chairman in 1834/35 .

  • Eduard Zeiss
    ZEISS Archives

    Eduard Zeiss

    Zeiss's brothers

    Carl Zeiss had two older brothers: Eduard (1809–1877) and Gustav (1811–1875). All three of them attended the grammar school in Weimar. Both brothers left school with a full education.

    From 1829 to 1832, Eduard studied philology and theology in Jena. In 1834, he became the rector of the local school in Buttstädt. In 1842, he accepted a position as rector of the Citizens’ School in Jena, a move that saw him return to the town of his student days. The state frequently asked him to provide appraisals of education establishments. In 1846, Eduard gave Carl 100 thalers to set up his very own workshop..

    Gustav also studied in Jena and graduated with a doctorate in philosophy (Dr. phil.). When Carl relocated to Jena in 1834, the three brothers spent a few months together there. In January of 1835, Carl moved in with Gustav in what was known as the Körnerei, a kind of student accommodation surrounded by inns that were owned by master carpenter Körner. Gustav later became a grammar school teacher in Weimar.

  • Pauline Zeiss
    ZEISS Archives

    Pauline Zeiss

    Zeiss's sisters

    We know hardly anything about his younger sisters Pauline (1828–1875), Hulda (1821–1888) and Emilie (1818–1900).

    As befitted the patriarchal ideology of the time, the three girls probably enjoyed only a modest education that prepared them for their roles as wives and mothers.

    Pauline kept house for Carl in Jena until he married in 1849. His younger sister Hulda is also said to have helped him at the time. Hulda also looked after his son Roderich after his mother and grandmother both passed away. When Carl purchased the plot of land on Johannisplatz 9 in 1858, his sisters Emilie and Pauline lent him a total of 500 thalers. It would seem, therefore, that the siblings were always there for each other in times of need. This stands testament to a strong family bond.

    In 1855 Zeiss’s sister Pauline married the widowed church counselor Carl Gustav Schatter in Neunhofen. Thus, Zeiss’s first father-in-law simultaneously became his brother-in-law. In 1858, Hulda married the bookbinder Gustav Scheidemantel from Weimar. Emilie never married.

Childhood and youth

1816 to 1834

Famous for Goethe, Schiller, Herder and Wieland, the four most important German poets of their times, and for the "Court of the Muses" set up by the erudite Duchess Anna Amalia – Weimar was deemed as the cradle of national culture in the early 19th century. Recent historical research demonstrates that this is an incomplete picture. In actual fact Weimar was more a city of craftsmen. The city chiefly owed its economic prowess to its craftsmen. The most affluent customers came from the ducal family and the appertaining court household, including the upper echelons of the civil service. Luxury goods were in great demand, and this was reflected by the broad spectrum of skilled crafts.

It was here that Carl Zeiss was born on 11 September, the son of Friederike Zeiss and court wood turner August Zeiss.

Zeiss’s peers in Weimar

  • Goethe (1749–1832)

    Goethe (1749–1832)

    Today, Johann Wolfgang v. Goethe (1749–1832), the “prince among poets,” is hailed as the main representative of German poetry and the pioneer of the Sturm and Drang and Classic movements. He worked in Weimar from 1775 onwards. He held a number of political and administrative roles, such as that of Privy Legation Councillor as of 1776 and Finance Minister from 1782 onwards. In addition to his work in administration and as an author, he also published systematic nature studies.

    Photo: © Wikimedia Commons / public domain

  • Christian August Vulpius (1762–1827)

    Christian August Vulpius (1762–1827)

    He was Goethe’s brother-in-law. He and his sister shared ancestors with Carl Zeiss. The librarian wrote light fiction that proved very popular indeed. He made a name for himself with the novel “Rinaldo Rinaldini the Robber Chief” and its sequels.

    Photo: © Wikimedia Commons / public domain

  • Caroline Jagemann (1777–1848)

    Caroline Jagemann (1777–1848)

    From 1806 until her passing in 1848, she lived in Weimar at Herderplatz 16. To this day, she remains not only one of the most significant tragic actresses of Weimar Classicism, she also had a considerable impact on the theater scene in Weimar as artistic director of the royal theater. She was the paramour of Duke Karl August.

    Photo: © Wikimedia Commons / public domain

  • Maria Pawlowna (1786–1859)

    Maria Pawlowna (1786–1859)

    The Grand Duchess of Russia and daughter of the Russian Czar Paul I, became Duchess of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach after marrying Carl Friedrich in 1804. In 1828, she became Grand Duchess and was particularly important as a patron of the arts and through her social commitment at the Weimar court. She made the city attractive in new ways.

    Photo: © Wikimedia Commons / public domain

  • Johann Peter Eckermann (1792–1854)

    Johann Peter Eckermann (1792–1854)

    He was an author, close confidant of Goethe, teacher to crown prince Carl Alexander and librarian to Grand Duchess Maria Pawlowna. He lived in Weimar from 1823 until his death in 1854. Today, he is particularly well known for his “Conversations of Goethe.” He lived for a time at Marktstrasse 9, near Carl Zeiss’s birthplace.

    Photo: © Wikimedia Commons / public domain

  • Franz Liszt (1811–1886)

    Franz Liszt (1811–1886)

    The well-known composer, director, theater director, music teacher and author lived in Weimar from 1843 until 1861. He worked as conductor to the Grand Duke.

    Photo: © Wikimedia Commons / public domain

Milestones in his youth in Weimar

Weimar city map 1826. Source: Klassik Stiftung Weimar
Klassik Stiftung Weimar

City map, 1826

Castle

From 1810 onwards, August Zeiss paid regular visits to the castle.

House on Töpfenmarkt square

In 1808, the young couple Friederike and August Zeiss relocated to Weimar.

Grammar school

Little is known about Carl Zeiss’s early years.   

House on Marktplatz square

In 1818, his father purchased the house at Kaufstrasse street 1 on Weimar’s Marktplatz square.

Birthplace on Breitengasse lane

On 11 September 1816, Carl Zeiss was born as the fifth of 12 children.

Goethe's house

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a bona fide hero in the small residential town.

Trade school

In answer to the question as to why Carl Zeiss, unlike his brothers, did not fully graduate from grammar school but left in his penultimate year, the relevant literature points to the boy’s health.

Citizens’ school

The Citizens' School was established in Weimar in 1825.

  • House on Töpfenmarkt square
    Weimar city museum

    Töpfenmarkt in Weimar before 1840.

    House on Töpfenmarkt square

    In 1808, the young couple Friederike and August Zeiss relocated to Weimar. From then on, August Zeiss turned his attention to the production of and trade with smoking accessories, as the following advertisement in the Weimarisches Wochenblatt on 4 March 1809 demonstrates:

    “I herewith inform the most honored public that I have moved into the house belonging to Frau von Lincker on the Töpfermarkt. I manufacture all sorts of genuine pipes and perform other fine wood-turning work. I also offer Meissen porcelain pipe bowls and the like at very cheap prices.”

    Zeiss appears to have been a good businessman. As early as August 1812, he had saved enough money to purchase at auction a three-story house in the Breite Gasse lane 53 (now Marktstrasse street 13) for 1,540 thalers. This is the house in which Carl Zeiss was born in 1816.

  • Birthplace on Breitengasse lane

    The baptismal record of Carl Zeiss, provided by the Ev.-Luth. Kirchgemeinde, Weimar.

    Birthplace on Breitengasse lane

    On 11 September 1816, Carl Zeiss was born as the fifth of 12 children. Six of his siblings died at a young age. He was baptized Carl Friedrich after his godfather, the heir to the throne of Saxe - Weimar - Eisenach.

    “Sept. 1816. [232]
    Friedrich August Zeiss, citizen and wood turner here, and his wife, Friederica Antonette, née Schmidt, had a fifth child, a baby boy, who was born on Wednesday 11 September at 6 in the evening, and was baptized on Thursday 19 [?] with the name Carl Friedrich, the only esteemed godfather was His Majesty the next in line to be Grand Duke of Saxe, Weimar and Eisenach pp Carl August Friedrich. N.B. the nursemaid Frau Schulze held him in her arms.”

  • Wikimedia Commons/public domain

    The market square in Weimar in 1850. Carl Zeiss spent his childhood in the second, slightly yellowish house to the right of the town hall.

    House on Marktplatz square

    In 1818, his father purchased the house at Kaufstrasse street 1 on Weimar’s Marktplatz square. This very impressive house was located virtually right next to the town hall. He was born on Marktstrasse street and raised on Kaufstrasse on Marktplatz square – that must have caused some confusion further down the line. A commemorative plaque indicating his birthplace was attached to the wrong house on Kaufstrasse street for decades.

  • Castle
    Weimar city museum

    Castle in Weimar around 1830, by Carl August Schwerdgeburth.

    Castle

    From 1810 onwards, August Zeiss paid regular visits to the castle. He taught the heir to the throne all about the art of wood turning. This is a hobby that some ancestors of Carl Friedrich (1783-1853) had previously indulged in. He did not abandon this beloved pastime even when he became Grand Duke in 1828. Until his death in 1849, this was a considerable source of income for August Zeiss and in 1829 he was given the title of court wood turner.

    These private lessons gave August Zeiss direct access to the prince, which he then used to secure an influential godfather for his own son. In Weimar society at that time, it was a rare occurrence for a member of the highest political class to play the role of godparent to a lowly citizen. However, there is no evidence to suggest that Carl Zeiss took advantage of his relationship with the Grand Duke's family during his subsequent career.

  • Citizens’ school
    Weimar city museum

    The citizens’ school in Weimar.

    Citizens’ school

    The Citizens' School was established in Weimar in 1825. In November 1822, the foundations were laid for the building and it was inaugurated in 1825. The triple-winged building in the Neoclassical style provided ample space for the students. Goethe praised the building in a letter to Duke Carl August dated 20 July 1826: “This building is a cultural monolith when one beholds it from the outside before setting foot inside. The roughest children, those who run up and down stairs, who race through anterooms, take their lessons in such handsome classrooms, have already been distanced from all their childhood follies and can now undertake cheerful activities without encountering any obstacles whatsoever.”

    We can assume that Carl Zeiss spent his early formative years here. The building has housed a music school since 1966.

  • Grammar school
    Weimar city museum

    The church and grammar school in Weimar around 1840.

    Grammar school

    Little is known about Carl Zeiss’s early years. What is certain, however, is that August Zeiss provided his sons with an extensive school education. The grammar school records show that Carl was admitted early to the eighth grade, on 13 September 1827, after completing oral and written examinations. This would suggest that Zeiss had already received instruction elsewhere – either with one of the numerous private teachers or at the Weimar Bürgerschule ("Citizens' School") that was set up in 1825.

    On 29 March 1832, he left the grammar school with a qualification verifying that he had finished his penultimate year. This entitled him to study technical subjects at the university.

  • Trade school
    Weimar city museum

    The hunting lodge on Marienstrasse street in Weimar, also the location of the Trade School; photograph taken by Louis Held circa 1900.

    Trade school

    In answer to the question as to why Carl Zeiss, unlike his brothers, did not fully graduate from grammar school but left in his penultimate year, the relevant literature points to the boy’s health. Evidently Carl Zeiss suffered from a hernia and, in his father's opinion, should not conduct any undertaking that required long periods of sedentary activity. According to his father, this meant that he was predestined for a career in the technical crafts. Perhaps this was more attributable to the son’s personal proclivity and to the family tradition of ensuring that at least one of the sons should remain a craftsman.

    As Carl Zeiss himself later reported, he attended what was known as the "Trade School" in Weimar that emerged from the existing "Drawing School" following an initiative launched by Goethe in October 1829. Held on Sundays, the Trade School was specially geared to the needs of complex crafts with technical drawing as one of the focal points of its curriculum.

  • Goethe's house
    Weimar city museum

    Goethe's house, engraved by Heinrich Müller.

    Goethe's house

    Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a bona fide hero in the small residential town. The deaths of Johann Gottfried Herder (1744–1803), Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) and Christoph Martin Wieland (1733–1813) marked the end of the golden age of Classicism. But for Germany, Weimar remained the crucible of literature. With widely read authors such as Christian Vulpius (1762–1827), Paul-Friedrich Richter (1763–1825) aka Jean Paul and Johann Peter Eckermann (1792–1854), the small town still had more to offer than most large German cities.

    Be it on his way to school, to meet friends or to play, the young Carl will certainly have had a chance encounter with the old privy counselor Goethe. But whether he was aware of this fact is debatable.

Apprenticeship and journeyman years

1834 to 1845

At Easter 1834, Carl Zeiss left his home city and chose a nearby destination to pursue his further career: Jena, a good 20 kilometers east of Weimar and the seat of the state university.
The university in Jena determined the weals and woes of the populace. The Cives academici, i.e. students, professors and other persons associated with the university, all of whom had their own jurisdiction, constituted quite a formidable economic power despite accounting for less than one fifth of the city’s population.

While the production of luxury goods flourished in Weimar, Jena had at its disposal a considerable amount of skilled tradesmen, such as coppersmiths, watchmakers and mechanics, who lived at least in part on work linked to science.
Towards the end of the 18th century, however, a rather gloomy image of the city emerged. After a short-lived economic upsurge in around 1800 associated with such names as Friedrich Schiller, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Friedrich Schelling, Johann Gottlieb Fichte and Friedrich Schlegel, the university experienced some dark times. Thereafter, the number of students only began to rise gradually.

Milestones in his education

GEI-Digital

Map of the German Confederation in 1830.

  • ZEISS Archives

    Körner's house on Grietgasse street 10 in Jena.

    Jena

    Carl Zeiss went to Jena in early 1834 to begin an apprenticeship under the court mechanic Friedrich Körner (1778–1848). At the same time, from the summer semester of 1835 to the winter semester of 1837/38, he was enrolled to study mathematics at the University of Jena.

    According to his university transcript, he attended lectures on algebra and analytical geometry, as well as experimental physics, trigonometry, stereometry, anthropology, mineralogy, and optics. Alongside his focus on the geometrical disciplines relevant to the technical trades, Zeiss therefore also devoted his attention to areas of science that relied on scientific instruments. Added to this was optics, the field that would be the focus of his work. The subject was taught by Friedrich Körner. As one would expect from someone studying while working, Zeiss opted for seminars and lectures that provided him with an introduction to different topics.

    Nevertheless, it is likely that he spent the majority of his time producing in Jena at the workshop run by Friedrich Körner. Körner's residence and place of business, rather spacious premises, were located on Grietgasse lane 10, where Zeiss was purported to have lived for a time. The fact that Zeiss was involved in glass melting here means that there must have been an oven for doing so on the premises in the 1830s.

  • Main state archives Stuttgart

    Marketplace in Stuttgart, watercolor by Christian von Martens, 1868

    Stuttgart

    On 20 May 1838, a Sunday, Körner released Zeiss into his journeyman years with a glowing reference. As mechanics was not a trade in its own right, there was no prescribed way in which to go about his new endeavor. Zeiss was left to fend for himself. The only autobiographical account from this period in the young mechanic’s life dates back to 1846. In his search for a place to set up his business in Jena, Zeiss wrote the following:

    “In the period from July 1838 to May 1845 I sought to further my knowledge by working at the most renowned physical, optical, mathematical and machine workshops in Stuttgart, Darmstadt, Vienna and Berlin. I availed of every opportunity for my advancement by using the tools and acquiring the skills beneficial to and necessary for a mechanic.”

    Few historical records exist of his journeyman years. This is not surprising when we consider that the arrival of a lonely, and at the time unknown, wandering mechanic was an unremarkable event in a big city. The large gaps in his employment and university references also suggest that as a journeyman, Zeiss did not solely focus on advancing his knowledge and skills. We do not know where he could have worked in Stuttgart.

  • Weimar city museum

    Weimar, circa 1840

    Weimar

    Carl Zeiss received a thorough education from private teachers, the Weimar Citizens’ School and his subsequent enrollment at the grammar school. Carl Zeiss was also part of the first generation of students to enjoy an improved education which was more sharply focused on the requirements of technical occupations. His schooldays in Weimar may have been of key importance in the graduate’s subsequent decision to devote his energies to the fields of mechanics and optics.

  • Vienna Museum

    Hot-air balloon ride over Vienna, 1847, watercolor by Jakob Alt

    Vienna

    There are two accounts about his time in Vienna: the first from the Imperial and Royal Polytechnic Institute, the nucleus of the Vienna Technical University. In 1842/43, Zeiss attended “the Sunday lectures on popular mechanics, worked hard” and passed the examination with a very high grade. The second reference comes from the Viennese branch of the Strasbourg-based truck scale factory Rollé & Schwilgué, which operated from 1844 onwards as Heinrich Daniel Schmid (following multiple name changes, it is now part of Siemens AG Austria). Zeiss received documented confirmation of the time he spent working at Vienna’s heavy machinery producer between April and August 1843.

  • F. A. Schwartz (Berlin City Museum Foundation)

    Poststrasse street in Berlin, 1888

    Berlin

    In June 1844, Carl Zeiss made his way from Austria to Berlin via his hometown of Weimar. He was hired by the mechanic Carl Ernst Lüttig. From 30 September 1844 to 6 September 1845, he worked as an assistant in the workshop on Postrasse street 11 in Berlin’s Nikolaiviertel district. As Lüttig also took part in the General German Trade Exhibition in 1844, we know that he specialized in technical drawing instruments for physical and mathematical research. Given the way his career would turn out, it is surprising how little Zeiss concerned himself with optics during his journeyman years. Not one of the references was issued by an employer specialized in optical instruments, although the many ports of call along his route included Simon Plössl in Vienna and Friedrich Wilhelm Schiek in Berlin who ran workshops that enjoyed excellent reputations. It is clear that Zeiss was interested primarily in mechanics.

  • Wikimedia Commons/public domain

    Ludwig's monument in Darmstadt around 1840, steel engraving by Poppel, inspired by a sketch by Jakob Meinrad Bayrer

    Darmstadt

    We also know nothing about his employer in Darmstadt. Different researchers have speculated that Zeiss spent some time in the capital of the Grand Duchy of Hesse working at the factory of Johann Hector Roessler (1779–1863) which primarily produced minting machines. This is plausible: Roessler was a journeyman in Jena, assumed the post of a university mechanic in Darmstadt and ran a mechanical workshop that was not dissimilar to that of Körner in Jena; he was then appointed grand ducal currency officer for Hesse in 1832. Nevertheless, there is no documentary evidence to support the claim that Zeiss was employed by Rössler in Darmstadt.

Carl Zeiss aged 34/35
Carl Schenk, ZEISS Archives

Carl Zeiss aged 34/35

Company foundation

1846 in Jena

After eleven years of being an apprentice, in 1845 Carl Zeiss returned to Jena on St. Michael’s Day (29 September). But before he could begin to consider establishing a business, Zeiss needed a residence permit. The simplest way to obtain one was to enroll at the university.

It was not until 10 May 1846 that Zeiss submitted a request with the grand ducal provincial headquarters to grant him a permit. In spite of his excellent references, the Weimar building authority summoned him to their headquarters in order to assess his suitability to be a mechanic. In his responses, Zeiss made no secret of the fact that he considered the exam questions as nothing more than an impertinence and a waste of time.

The authority was clearly offended at his attitude and initially put his request to one side. On 21 October, Carl Zeiss became impatient and inquired about his request. Only then did the buildings office in charge readdress the issue. Then things went smoothly: On 19 November 1846 the provincial headquarters in Weimar granted Zeiss a permit and informed the Jena city council; on 26 November Zeiss received word from the council and on 8 December he became a citizen of Jena.

Milestones in Jena

Jena
Jena city museum

City map, 1892

Körner's residence and business on Grietgasse

Friedrich Körner was born on 2 September 1778, the son of a baker from Weimar.

Third workshop on Johannisplatz square

Slowly but surely, Carl Zeiss succeeded in making a name for himself as an entrepreneur both in business and in society.

Residence on Littergässchen lane

In December 1879, Zeiss had already acquired a large plot of land outside the historical town center and planned to construct a building that would house both living quarters and a workshop with adjacent buildings.

Glassworks since 1884
Glassworks since 1884

Since 1882, the Jenaer Glaswerk Schott & Genossen (Jena Glassworks of Schott and Associates) that Carl Zeiss was associated with went from strength to strength. But we will come back to that particular story later on.

Photo: The Schott & Genossen glassworks in Jena in 1889 (ZEISS Archive).

Second workshop on Wagnergasse lane

On 19 June 1847, Zeiss published an announcement in the Jenaische Zeitung that he would henceforth be living and working at Wagnergasse lane 32.

First workshop on Neugasse street

As early as 17 November 1846, a Tuesday two days before the permit was officially granted, Carl Zeiss is reported to have moved into his first workshop on Neugasse street 7.

Dwelling of Matthias Schleiden

The botanist Matthias Jakob Schleiden (1804–1881) helped develop the cell theory.

  • Residence on Littergässchen lane
    ZEISS Archives

    Carl Zeiss house and administrative building on Littergässchen lane in 1890.

    Residence on Littergässchen lane

    In December 1879, Zeiss had already acquired a large plot of land outside the historical town center and planned to construct a building that would house both living quarters and a workshop with adjacent buildings. In a letter to the Jena municipal council, Zeiss explained how he intended to utilize the land: “The ground floor of front building A will be reserved exclusively for the rooms needed to run my Optical Works (no manufacturing areas); the floor above it will serve as living quarters. The ground floor of annex B has been designated as an area for mechanical work, and the floor above it for optical work – and separate areas for Prof. Abbe and Dr. Riedel”

    In the fall of 1880, so much progress had been made that Zeiss announced that the majority of his workers would be relocated on Monday 27 September. For the first time, production and development were housed in dedicated spaces.

  • First workshop on Neugasse street
    ZEISS Archives

    First workshop at Neugasse street 7, sketch from 1896.

    First workshop on Neugasse street

    As early as 17 November 1846, a Tuesday two days before the permit was officially granted, Carl Zeiss is reported to have moved into his first workshop on Neugasse street 7. This is now regarded as the date on which Carl Zeiss AG was officially founded but it is not supported by any documentary evidence. The original date of establishment was later reconstructed on the basis of the workshop logbook dating back to 1871; in it, the mechanic Pape wrote the following note under 17 November: “Stopped at 9 a.m. Company’s 25th anniversary.”

    There are some indications that the workshop on Neugasse was nothing more than a temporary site. Carl Zeiss actually wrote in October 1846 that he would need six months after being granted a permit to set up his workshop. When the aforementioned six months were up, in June 1847 he relocated to Wagnergasse, where he proceeded to hire his first apprentice.

  • Second workshop on Wagnergasse lane
    ZEISS Archives

    House Wagnergasse Jena, Carl Zeiss's second workshop, photo from 1906.

    Second workshop on Wagnergasse lane

    On 19 June 1847, Zeiss published an announcement in the Jenaische Zeitung that he would henceforth be living and working at Wagnergasse lane 32. A letter from his father, who assisted him with the move, tells of a prototype for a microscope: “While I was there, I saw that he had finished constructing a microscope; I found it very good indeed. He does not wish to build any more of them, however, until he receives the machine from Berlin that is due to arrive this month."

    The machine mentioned in the letter was a lathe produced by the engineer August Hamann in Berlin and without which efficient microscope production would have been unthinkable. In the summer of 1847, Carl Zeiss began producing microscopes and in September 1847, he sold his first one. The business on Wagnergasse was slowly coming into its own. All of his children were born at around the same time.

  • Third workshop in Johannisstraße
    ZEISS Archives

    Johannisplatz in Jena, around 1865. Carl Zeiss' third workshop was located in the second house from the left.

    Third workshop in Johannisstraße

    Slowly but surely, Carl Zeiss succeeded in making a name for himself as an entrepreneur both in business and in society. Evidence of this came in early 1858 when he purchased the premises at Johannisplatz square 10, which abutted Jena’s historical center. The building, which Zeiss procured using the 500 thalers borrowed from his sisters Emilie and Pauline, was spacious enough to accommodate the later expansion of his business. Alongside the workshop in the annex, the retail outlet on the ground floor and the private quarters on the first floor where the Zeiss family dwelled were further spacious living quarters.

    In 1860, Zeiss also acquired an adjacent courtyard building to expand his workshop. It was not until 1880 that he gave up his retail shop, where he once sold spectacles, telescopes and other instruments. Here, on Johannisplatz square, is where his collaboration with Ernst Abbe began, and it got the ball rolling on his company's rise to a microscope maker of international proportions.

  • Körner's residence and business on Grietgasse
    ZEISS Archives

    Friedrich Körner, court and university mechanic in Jena.

    Körner's residence and business on Grietgasse

    Friedrich Körner was born on 2 September 1778, the son of a baker from Weimar. He also came from a line of tradesmen employed by the Thuringian residence. In around 1810, Körner was employed as a mechanic at the Weimar court with the assistance of Goethe. Carl August provided his court mechanic with an annual wage of 300 thalers, redeployed him to Jena and ensured that he completed a postgraduate degree in 1818 at the university and that he qualified as a professor.

    Körner returned the favor by offering courses in optics and mechanics at regular intervals; he showcased the virtues of numerous instruments. He also founded a mechanical workshop in Jena and its portfolio focused primarily on the university’s needs. Carl Zeiss was his apprentice from 1834 to 1838.

  • Dwelling of Matthias Schleiden
    Botanical Institute in Jena, former garden records

    Watercolor by Schleiden of his study in Jena, photo Georg Uschmann 1962.

    Dwelling of Matthias Schleiden

    The botanist Matthias Jakob Schleiden (1804–1881) helped develop the cell theory. He was hailed as the pioneer of microscopy. While Zeiss had been traveling far and wide, Schleiden had already managed to persuade the court mechanic Körner to devote more time to the construction of microscopes. After returning to Jena, Carl Zeiss worked at the Physiological Institute established in 1843; Schleiden ran it jointly with geologist Ernst Erhard Schmid and physician Heinrich Haeser. Under the aegis of a private research facility, the Institute focused primarily on empirical work.

    A large amount of scientific apparatus, predominantly microscopes, was used at the facility. Zeiss' decision to turn his attention to microscope production, instead of running a general store like many of his fellow mechanics, is probably due to his close contact with Schleiden.

Zeiss’s peers in Jena

  • Jakob Friedrich Fries (1773–1843)

    Jakob Friedrich Fries (1773–1843)

    In the winter semester of 1835/36 Carl Zeiss attended his lectures on experimental physics. In 1819, Fries lost his professorship due to his links to democratic circles. In 1824, the staunch student fraternity member and antisemite was given permission to attend lectures once more, though initially only in the “non-political” sciences. He came up with key inspiration for the natural sciences.

    Photo: © Wikimedia Commons/public domain

  • Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner (1780–1849)

    Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner (1780–1849)

    The chemist and pharmacist is hailed as one of the key thinkers of the periodic table of the elements. He is known for the lighter that runs on sulfuric acid. In 1810, he was honored with an extraordinary professorship for chemistry and pharmacy by Carl August von Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach from the University of Jena. He and Friedrich Körner turned their attention to glass production.

    Photo: © ZEISS Archives

  • Karl Snell (1806–1886)

    Karl Snell (1806–1886)

    The mathematician, physicist and natural philosopher was a professor at the University of Jena. In this role, he taught Gottlob Frege and promoted Ernst Abbe’s academic career. Thanks to his links to Abbe and his commitment as a liberal politician and opponent of Bismarck, he had an impact on the statute of the Carl Zeiss Foundation.

    Photo: © ZEISS Archives

  • Ernst Haeckel (1834–1919)

    Ernst Haeckel (1834–1919)

    The biologist, who was well known outside the German-speaking world, valued the instruments produced by Carl Zeiss’ workshop as a scientist and corresponded with Carl Zeiss by letter. He applied for Carl Zeiss to be awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Jena.

    Photo: © ZEISS Archives

  • Rudolf Eucken (1846–1926)

    Rudolf Eucken (1846–1926)

    Was appointed as a professor of philosophy at the University of Jena in 1874. In 1908, he received the Nobel Prize for Literature. Despite this, much of his work has now been forgotten.

    Photo: © ZEISS Archives

  • Gottlob Frege (1848–1925)

    Gottlob Frege (1848–1925)

    Modern-day computer technology and IT would not be what it is today had the philosopher, mathematician and logician not developed the formal language for it. Ernst Abbe was one of his teachers. His studies and his professorship were sponsored by the Carl Zeiss Foundation.

    Photo: © Wikimedia Commons/public domain

Year

1846

Number of employees

The founder

Milestone

1st simple microscope

Company in the early days

1846 to 1857

Fortunately for Zeiss, this single advertisement proved to be sufficient to attract someone who would go on to play a key role in the company’s success: August Löber (1830–1912).

The son of a craftsman, Löber was already 17 and therefore theoretically too old to apply, but the death of his father in January 1847 had left him in a position of genuine hardship. There is no record of whether this influenced Zeiss’s decision to employ him, or indeed whether anybody else even applied for the job in the small town of Jena. What we can say for certain is that, over 44 years, Löber was promoted from apprentice to foreman, eventually ending up as the head of production and the company's most valuable instructor and trainer. Moritz von Rohr reports on how Löber received a share of the profits later on in his career and became a wealthy man. This illustrates the extraordinary regard in which the foreman was held in the company, even though much of the workforce considered his managerial style to be short-tempered and authoritarian.

Foreman August Löber with mechanics and apprentices, 1864
Foreman August Löber with mechanics and apprentices, 1864
ZEISS Archiv
ZEISS Archiv
Foreman August Löber with mechanics and apprentices, 1864

Foreman August Löber with mechanics and apprentices, 1864

L to r: Carl Müller, Friedrich Pfaffe, Joseph Rudolph, Wilhelm Böber, Heinrich Pape, Fritz Müller and August Löber.  

What became of them?

  • Carl Müller (1849–1909)

    Carl Müller (1849–1909)

    He joined the company in 1864 as one of its first apprentices and assistants. He qualified as a foreman in lens mounting and as of 1890 was also trained in the production of camera lenses. He later became the man in charge of final inspections for telescopes.

    Photo: © ZEISS Archives

  • Friedrich Pfaffe (1849–?)

    Friedrich Pfaffe (1849–?)

    On 6 September 1863, he began working for Carl Zeiss as a grinder.

    Photo: © ZEISS Archives

  • Joseph Rudolph (1841–1914)

    Joseph Rudolph (1841–1914)

    Upon joining the company on 23 February 1857, August Löber took him on as a second apprentice lensmaker. He later became a foreman at the grinding shop for microlenses.

    Photo: © ZEISS Archives

  • Wilhelm Böber (1847–? )

    Wilhelm Böber (1847–? )

    He was hired on 15 April 1861 as the third apprentice lensmaker. He began producing front lens elements and glass lenses in around 1883 and did so from his own home as a lensmaker.

    Photo: © ZEISS Archives

  • Heinrich Pape (1849–? )

    Heinrich Pape (1849–? )

    He joined the company as a turner on 2 January 1864 and worked for Carl Zeiss until 1910.

    Photo: © ZEISS Archives

  • Fritz Müller (1847–1919)

    Fritz Müller (1847–1919)

    The exceptionally gifted lensmaker joined the company in 1861 and was taught by Carl Zeiss himself. He was soon put in charge of microlens mounting. He worked as senior master at Zeiss until he retired in 1913.

    Photo: © ZEISS Archives

Year

1846-1857

Number of employees

5 employees

Milestone

1st compound microscope

Carl Zeiss and Frau Ottilie with daughter-in-law, born Franziska Thierbach, circa 1885.

Carl Zeiss and Frau Ottilie with daughter-in-law, born Franziska Thierbach, circa 1885.

Family

Marriage and children

Little is known about what Carl Zeiss was like as a person. Records suggest that his elder brother’s wife introduced him to the family of a clergyman named Schatter who lived in the town of Neunhofen in Thuringia. On 29 May 1849, Zeiss married the clergyman’s daughter, Bertha Schatter.

Years later Zeiss confided in his friend K.O. Beck that he had made a good choice in his union with Bertha, even though the bride had virtually no wealth of her own. The couple’s wedded bliss was short-lived, however: Bertha died the day after giving birth to her first son Roderich on 23 February 1850. She was just 22 years old.

Fortunately Zeiss was able to call on family assistance once again. Bereft of his mother, Roderich was initially taken in by Zeiss’s parents-in-law in Neunhofen. Therese Schatter looked after her newborn grandson until she died in February 1851, almost exactly one year after her daughter's death. Zeiss then entrusted Roderich’s care to his second-eldest sister, Hulda, who also seems to have spent much of her time in Neunhofen.

In 1853 Zeiss remarried, this time to Ottilie Trinkler (1819–1897), the daughter of a clergyman from the town of Triptis in eastern Thuringia, who was distantly related to Zeiss’s first wife. Carl Zeiss himself subsequently referred to both his wives affectionately as “spiritually very much country folk.” His marriage to Ottilie produced three children: Karl Otto (1854–1925), Hedwig (1856–1935) and Sidonie (1861–1920).

Carl Zeiss family tree
  • Bertha Schatter (1827–1850)
    ZEISS Archives

    Bertha Zeiss, silhouette in wreath from own hair.

    Bertha Schatter (1827–1850)

    Records suggest that his elder brother’s wife introduced Carl Zeiss to the family of a clergyman named Schatter who lived in the town of Neunhofen in Thuringia. On 29 May 1849, Zeiss married the clergyman’s daughter, Bertha Schatter.

    Years later Zeiss confided in his friend K.O. Beck that he had made a good choice in his union with Bertha, even though the bride had virtually no wealth of her own. The couple’s wedded bliss was short-lived, however: Bertha died the day after giving birth to her first son Roderich on 23 February 1850. She was just 22 years old.

  • Ottilie Trinkler (1819–1897)
    Carl Bräunlich, ZEISS Archives

    Ottilie Zeiss circa 1880.

    Ottilie Trinkler (1819–1897)

    In 1853 Zeiss remarried, this time to Ottilie Trinkler, the daughter of a clergyman from the town of Triptis in eastern Thuringia, who was distantly related to Zeiss’s first wife. Carl Zeiss himself subsequently referred to both his wives affectionately as “spiritually very much country folk.”

    His marriage to Ottilie produced three children: Karl Otto (1854–1925), Hedwig (1856–1935) and Sidonie (1861–1920).

  • Roderich Zeiss (1850–1919)
    Carl Bräunlich, ZEISS Archives

    Roderich Zeiss, undated.

    Roderich Zeiss (1850–1919)

    Carl Zeiss’s eldest son initially studied medicine. In the war of 1870/71, he sustained an injury to his hand that dashed his hopes of becoming a surgeon. Upon his father’s request, he therefore opted for a commercial apprenticeship. In 1876, he joined the company and assumed responsibility for the commercial matters. He made remarkable achievements in photomicrography. In 1879, he became co-owner of the company.

    Ernst Abbe, who did not shy away from taking risks, and Roderich, who was more of a cautious businessman, did not get along. Roderich thus left the company in 1889, making it possible to transfer it to the hands of the Carl Zeiss Foundation.

    Roderich Zeiss married his cousin Therese Schatter (1864 - 1949). Their union produced two children.

  • Sidonie (Doni) Zeiss (1861–1920)
    Carl Bräunlich, ZEISS Archives

    Sidonie Zeiss

    Sidonie (Doni) Zeiss (1861–1920)

    Sidonie was a gifted musician and artist. She spent her entire life making music in her home town. In 1882, she married medical officer of health Lucas Siebert (1841–1913). Their marriage produced two children. She enjoyed traveling, especially to Italy and to the Bayreuth Festival.

  • Hedwig Zeiss (1856–1935)
    Carl Bräunlich, from the possession of Kathrin Siebert

    Hedwig Zeiss with her dog Mauschel

    Hedwig Zeiss (1856–1935)

    In 1878, she married grammar school teacher Prof. Konrad Sagawe (1853–1939) and moved to Wroclaw to be with him. Their marriage produced two children.

  • Otto Zeiss (1854–1925)
    Carl Bräunlich, from the possession of Kathrin Siebert

    Otto Zeiss circa 1869

    Otto Zeiss (1854–1925)

    Otto Zeiss studied medicine and set up as a doctor in Erfurt. As a privy medical counselor he opened the first gynecological clinic in Erfurt.

    His first wife was Franziska Thierbach (1862–1885), and his second wife was the daughter of a manufacturer from Westphalia, Ida Möllmann (1865–1936). These marriages produced five children.

In his ‘Manual’ Carl Zeiss kept detailed records of his income and expenditure between the years 1848 and 1863. It is a record of both the business performance of a small workshop and Zeiss’s private expenditures. This makes it an excellent source of social history.

Manual - documentation of income and expenses

Manual of Zeiss
"Professor Schmid (Ernst) barometer"
Professor Schmid (Ernst) Barometer

At the beginning, some of his key customers were the employees at the Physiological Institute. Alongside the biologist Matthias Schleiden (1804–1881), these were the mineralogist Ernst Erhard Schmid (1815–1885) and the physicians Heinrich Haeser (1811–1884) and Ottomar Domrich (1819–1907).

"Firewood 1 cartload […] burning oil"
Firewood 1 cartload […] burning oil

Firewood for heating and burning oil are listed here. It was used for lighting. On the short winter days, it was likely that light was dim in the workshops, which did the precision workers no favors.

"Kitchen and other household items"
Kitchen and other household items

This was where the private details of the tradesman’s house were listed: besides food and drink (here: wine and beer) are entries mainly for clothing. The housekeeper Emma is also mentioned here. On this page, the entry "larkspur seeds" suggest an intention to embellish.

"Materials and tools alcohol"

This is a list of everything that was needed for producing microscopes. This month it was iron and brass wire, but also matches. We can assume that diamond splitters were used to cut glass. The "Postage " column makes a regular appearance, which is evidence that microscopes were soon being sent to distant places.

"7/4 Mister Court Pharmacist Löhlein in Coburg"

A range of instruments was delivered to the court-appointed pharmacist Löhlein. At the time, Coburg and Jena were located in different states. So this could even pretentiously be described as an export. At any rate, it shows that Zeiss’s client base quickly grew.

"Wages"
Wages

In the company’s infancy, almost exclusive mention is made of August Löber, who is sometimes also referred to as ‘Löwer’. There would occasionally be the odd journeyman, who worked for Carl Zeiss for a few short months. Were these perhaps traveling tradesmen?

"Payment claims"
Payment claims

It is clear that Carl Zeiss did not only accept cash as payment for his wares, but also tolerated late payments.

"Income"
Income

This is a list of the number of microscopes he produced and sold and also details the income from the wares sold in his shop. Spectacles and loupes were the top-selling items.

Carl Zeiss at the beginning of the 1880s
Carl Bräunlich, ZEISS Archives

Carl Zeiss at the beginning of the 1880s

Citizen and entrepreneur

1851 to 1866

In July 1858 Carl Zeiss was appointed deputy master of weights and measures by the Grand Ducal Office of Weights and Measures in Weimar. As such, he was tasked with overseeing weights and measures in and around the city of Jena. In September 1860, he was named university mechanic.

Further proof of his growing reputation came in 1863 when he was named grand ducal court mechanic. From 1863 to 1867, he was a member of the Jena local council. At the same time, he became a volunteer in charge of donations and funds for local welfare.

Compound microscope from 1862 (Mappes collection)
Mappes collection

1866 was the most successful year for Carl Zeiss since he established his company. 192 microscopes were produced – 81 more than in the previous year. In other words, Carl Zeiss was already a successful businessman and a highly respected citizen when he approached another key turning point in his life.

Year

1857-1866

Number of employees

5-6 employees

Milestone

1,000 microscopes

Ernst Abbe circa 1888
Carl Bräunlich, ZEISS Archives

Ernst Abbe circa 1888

Ernst Abbe joins forces with Zeiss

1866 to 1878

Carl Zeiss made many attempts to put microscope lenses on a scientific basis. The experiments conducted by Friedrich Wilhelm Barfuß did not produce any workable results.

In 1866, he joined forces with Ernst Abbe.

Abbe initially focused the development of different measuring instruments to more precisely determine the optical characteristics of lenses – a key requirement for rational production.

Further steps were taken to separate mechanical and optical production. At the same time, Abbe constructed new illumination apparatus.

Travel microscope modeled on Strasburger IIIc from 1876 (Mappes collection)
Mappes collection

He made his first forays into lens design in 1869 – but this task proved to be a difficult one. A lengthy process of calculations and experiments was necessary to help the Zeiss workshop make up for their lack of experience vis-à-vis their long-established competitors and ultimately outperform them.

On 12 September 1871, Abbe presented his design plan for a powerful water immersion objective lens. From 1872 onwards, all microscope lenses were produced in line with Abbe’s designs.

Immersion objective lens K from 1881 (Photo: Timo Mappes)
Cross-section of homogeneous immersion (Photo: ZEISS Archives)

Immersion objective lenses

A major breakthrough

The first homogeneous oil immersion objective lens was developed on the suggestion of John Ware Stephenson; production began in early 1877. How this worked? An immersion liquid such as cedar oil, which has a distinctly higher refractive index than air, was placed between the specimen and the lens. This considerably improved the microscope’s resolution, and offered many other benefits, such as fewer reflections.

Immersion objective lens K from 1881 (Photo: © Timo Mappes)
Cross-section of homogeneous immersion (Photo: © ZEISS Archives)

“Business at Zeiss has been very good recently. For three months now we have been working tirelessly to fulfill the orders we have received. In particular, the new lenses (oil immersion) – and might I say it is a disgrace that you have yet to receive one of them because they are selling like hot cakes – have truly helped elevate the reputation of the Optical Works both in Germany and abroad.

It would seem that over the past six months all institutes in Berlin with which we previously had no contact have placed orders for large microscopes.”

On 8 January 1879, Abbe was able to tell his friend Anton Dohrn about the success of the new product.

Year

1866-1878

Number of employees

30-60 employees

Milestone

2,000 microscopes

Microscopes for science

The 20 major delivery destinations from 1847 to 1889

  • Microscope deliveries, 1847–1869
  • Microscope deliveries, 1847–1869 & 1870–1889
  • Microscope deliveries, 1870–1889
  • Microscope deliveries, 1847–1869

    Microscope deliveries, 1847–1869

  • Microscope deliveries, 1847–1869 & 1870–1889
  • Microscope deliveries, 1870–1889

    Microscope deliveries, 1870–1889

The diagram shows the key locations where these microscopes were sold during the two periods of 1847 to 1869 and 1870 to 1889. The majority of orders in the first 20 years came from ducal towns in and around Jena and some German university towns and centers of commerce. Occasional sales were also made to areas which at that time formed part of Russia, in many cases facilitated by graduates of Jena University. The second period is dominated by major bastions of science and key centers of trade and commerce in western Europe. New York also appears, and an increasing role was played by wholesalers in places such as Cambridge and Delft.

1847 –1869 1,308 microscopes
1870 –1889 13,228 microscopes

Source: ZEISS Archives BACZ 7710-7713.
(Photo: Map of Europe, 1890, source: GEI-Digital: http://gei-digital.gei.de/viewer/resolver?urn=urn:nbn:de:0220-gd-9923482)

Microscopes in research

  • Albert von Kölliker (1817–1905)

    Albert von Kölliker (1817–1905)

    The German anatomist and physiologist is one of those credited with the discovery of histology. He worked with Leydig cells and relied on technical developments like the homogeneous oil immersion lens launched by Carl Zeiss and Ernst Abbe in 1878. In the anniversary work published to coincide with his 70th birthday, he stressed the importance of these technical developments by Zeiss in many areas.

    Photo: © Wikimedia Commons/public domain

  • Rudolf Virchow (1821–1902)

    Rudolf Virchow (1821–1902)

    The German physician and pathologist, professor at the University of Würzburg and at the Charité University Hospital in Berlin, is credited with paving the way for modern pathology and is one of the key figures in the development of the cell theory. He was also praised most of all for his promotion of “social medicine” and for his commitment to ensuring basic medical care. He also used microscopes produced by Carl Zeiss in his scientific research.

    Photo: © Wikimedia Commons/public domain

  • Louis Pasteur (1822–1895)

    Louis Pasteur (1822–1895)

    The French chemist and microbiologist made major contributions to the prevention of infectious diseases, primarily through his research into vaccines and by proving that vaccination is a general principle. He paved the way for the creation of the vaccine industry by developing a vaccine to prevent anthrax and then another to prevent rabies.

    Photo: © Wikimedia Commons/public domain

  • Leopold Dippel (1827–1914)

    Leopold Dippel (1827–1914)

    The German botanist tested microscope optics and published groundbreaking works in the field of microscopy. He wrote the following of Zeiss microscopes in 1867 in his book “Das Mikroskop und seine Anwendung”: “Upon discussing the simple microscope, I had cause to extol the virtues of Mr. Zeiss, who is to be credited with a number of key enhancements to this research aid. [...] As such, I could expect nothing less than excellence from his workshop.”

    Photo: © Heinrich Schenk

  • Robert Koch (1843–1910)

    Robert Koch (1843–1910)

    Robert Koch and Louis Pasteur are credited with discovering modern bacteriology and microbiology. In 1876 the former succeeded in cultivating the pathogen responsible for anthrax and describing its life cycle – it was no later than this that he worked with photomicrography equipment from the Optical Works. In 1905, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine for his investigations into tuberculosis. He certified that the optical instruments produced by Carl Zeiss had a decisive impact on his work.

    Photo: © Humboldt University, Berlin, Archives

  • Santiago Ramón y Cajal (1852–1934)

    Santiago Ramón y Cajal (1852–1934)

    In 1906 the Spanish neuroscientist and histologist and C. Golgi were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine in recognition of their work on the structure of the nervous system. Cajal used the most advanced systems of the time to complete his work, including microscopes made by Carl Zeiss.

    Photo: © Wikimedia Commons / public domain

Otto Schott circa 1890 (Photo: Carl Bräunlich, ZEISS Archives).
Carl Bräunlich, ZEISS Archives

Otto Schott circa 1890

Otto Schott joins the company

1879 to 1884

On 27 May 1879, Ernst Abbe received a letter from young chemist Otto Schott (1851–1935), who spoke of a new kind of glass he had created. Until then, ordinary glass had been used to produce lenses. Now, the opportunity presented itself to develop special, optical glass. He sent these samples to Jena, where their suitability for optical purposes was assessed.

In January 1882 a glass technology laboratory was set up in Jena. In late 1882, Schott relocated to Jena. The funds to purchase a plot of land for Schott in Jena were mustered up by Carl Zeiss, and the laboratory experiments had been financed by Abbe since 1882. It didn’t take long for Schott to achieve some remarkable progress, however.

He succeeded in controlling the properties of the optical glass, which was initially produced in small quantities, and also in manufacturing samples with no impurities or internal stresses. Zeiss made the first microscope lens using Schott glass in the fall of 1883. The results were extraordinary, offering a tantalizing glimpse of the remarkable improvements in optical instruments that could conceivably be achieved with the new material.

On 23 July 1885 the company "Jenaer Glaswerk Schott & Genossen" was established. Its partners were Carl and Roderich Zeiss, Ernst Abbe and Otto Schott. The new company’s main line of business would later be heat-resistant lenses.

  • The melting pot is inserted into the blast furnace.
  • Inserting the raw lens materials (Photo: SCHOTT Archives).
  • Inspecting the melt batch (Photo: SCHOTT Archives).
  • Moving a red-hot glass melting pot (Photo: SCHOTT Archives).
  • Finishing the raw optical lens (Photo: SCHOTT Archives).
  • Inserting the raw optical lens in the casting forms (Photo: SCHOTT Archives).
  • Check optical lens for streaks (Photo: SCHOTT Archives).
  • Grinding of optical plate glass (Photo: SCHOTT Archives).
  • The melting pot is inserted into the blast furnace.
    SCHOTT Archives

    Using a melting pot

  • Inserting the raw lens materials (Photo: SCHOTT Archives).
    SCHOTT Archives

    Inserting the raw lens materials

  • Inspecting the melt batch (Photo: SCHOTT Archives).
    SCHOTT Archives

    Inspecting the melt batch

  • Moving a red-hot glass melting pot (Photo: SCHOTT Archives).
    SCHOTT Archives

    Moving a red-hot glass melting pot

  • Finishing the raw optical lens (Photo: SCHOTT Archives).
    SCHOTT Archives

    Finishing the raw optical lens

  • Inserting the raw optical lens in the casting forms (Photo: SCHOTT Archives).
    SCHOTT Archives

    Inserting the raw optical lens in the casting forms

  • Check optical lens for streaks (Photo: SCHOTT Archives).
    SCHOTT Archives

    Check optical lens for streaks

  • Grinding of optical plate glass (Photo: SCHOTT Archives).
    SCHOTT Archives

    Grinding of optical plate glass

Stand with micrometer movement and tilt from 1882 (Mappes collection)
Mappes collection

Stand with micrometer movement and tilt from 1882 (Mappes collection)

Outlook

Science-based optics

The new apochromatic lenses led to an enormous surge in demand. While skilled opticians were able to keep up with optics produced through trial and error, competitors were forced to produce science-based optics if they wanted to hold their own on the market. Orders for Zeiss microscopes were coming in from academic and research institutions all around the globe, and inroads were steadily being made into the realms of physicians, hygiene specialists and material testers.

The company was also sporadically starting to produce other optical products such as refractometers for measuring the concentration of solutions. It wasn’t until the 1890s that the new technological methods were applied to a greater variety of products including binoculars, camera lenses, astronomical devices, spectrometers and geodetic instruments, opening up new areas of business which would further accelerate the company’s growth.

Year

1879-1884

Number of employees

60-170 employees

Milestone

5,000 microscopes

Latter years

1884 to 1888

On 3 December 1888, Carl Zeiss closed his eyes for the final time. He was buried in the Johannisfriedhof cemetery next to the Garnisonkirche. Eight of his most loyal employees acted as pallbearers. His coffin was embellished with a brass cross inlaid with objective lenses which had been produced at the Optical Works.

Carl Zeiss circa 1888

Carl Zeiss’s health deteriorated rapidly in the fall of 1888. […] Withdrawn into himself, he now seemed thin and shrunken, with only his sparkling eyes to remind us of the upright, vivacious figure he once was with his full white beard and benevolent face. […] He also continued to show an interest in our garden, in the flowers and fruits. A quiet mood had overtaken him, he seemed humble and unassuming, excessively so. His voice became softer and gentler, though his gaze was still as bright, alert and penetrating as ever. […]

Previously, when he celebrated a garden party with old friends, something he did frequently and gladly, then there was draft beer and grilled sausages aplenty. He would sometimes be very merry, though he was never loud. When all the children gathered around him, Carl Zeiss would enjoy telling jokes. These occasions always involved a selection of fine food and excellent wines in which his sons and sons-in-law were free to indulge.

Therese Zeiss

who married Roderich in 1884, recalls her father-in-law’s final months:
  • View of Jena to the north (Landgrafen), 1891
    ZEISS Archives

    View of Jena to the north (Landgrafen), 1891

  • View of Jena and the Zeiss factory to the northeast, 1891
    ZEISS Archives

    Jena and the ZEISS plant as seen from the north-east, 1891: 1. Carl Zeiss’s house: administration on the ground floor, living quarters on the first floor, bookbinder’s on the top floor; 2. and 3. buildings for mechanics and optics, 4. Abbe’s house.

  • View of Jena to the east (Fuchsturm), 1891.
    ZEISS Archives

    View of Jena to the east (Fuchsturm), 1891.

Year

1884-1888

Salaried employees

291 employees

Milestone

10,000 microscopes

Thoughts about her great-great-grandfather

Carl Zeiss's great-great-granddaughter studied microbiology in Kiel and Miami, and obtained her doctorate Göttingen (Dr. rer. nat.)

She worked in Research, Development and Quality Management at different pharmaceuticals. Today, she advises companies on the production of pharmaceutical and medical technology products and devices.

  • Carl Zeiss's signature