The book Astro 1 documents serial numbers for different astronomical devices such as monocular and binocular telescopes, from no. 11,364 (1929) to 50,392 (1976). It also includes information about accessories such as mounts, astronomical cameras, clock drives (Uhrgan) and domes. In 1990 only 3 devices were assigned: numbers 50,393 through 50,395.
A separate list details planetariums, from no. 55 (1949) through 385 (1975) (386 through 388 as "latecomers" in 1990) and panorama telescopes from no. 751 (1919) through 3085 (1942). Unfortunately, there are no details about customers or delivery locations. The Starmor and Starmorbi telescopes with the numbers 751 through 1,750 from the period 1919 to 1931 appear to have been added at a later stage. Blank pages (1-6, 55-84, 87-96) have not been scanned.
The lists are structured as follows:
Fabrikations-Nr. (serial no.): Large devices were assigned at least two numbers (one for the mount and one for the optic). This serial number appeared on the mount or the device itself, not the lens.
Stück (Quantity): The quantity is derived from the difference between the order numbers (+ 1).
Gerätebezeichnung (device name): The device names are often abbreviated.
Sach-Nr. (ref. no. = drawing number): The ref. nos. appeared occasionally since 1957 and continuously since 1960, and simultaneously functioned as the numbers for the drawing sets. The first two digits of the 6-digit number stood for the product group: 16 or 17 for astronomical devices and their accessories, 18 and 19 for planetariums and their accessories.
belegt für = Auftragsnummer = LA (documented for = order number): The order number system changed several times over the years.
Datum (date): It can be assumed that the date given was an order date, or the date on which the serial numbers were assigned to the production area, and not the date when production was completed or the item was delivered.
The book Astro 2 contains information about astronomical optics from nos. 15,001 (1929) through 38,593. Unfortunately, they are only dated up to number 29,735 (1969). In addition to lenses, they contain other optics like prisms and mirrors.Occasional reference is made to devices that you would expect to see in the book Astro 1, so it is worth consulting both lists.
The book is structured as in Astro 1. Pages 27, 28, 45 and 46 are missing in the original. We can assume that the folio numbering was incorrect. The lists were written by hand. Abbreviations may differ depending on the writer. If you have any questions or problems, please get in touch with the ZEISS Archives.