Carl Zeiss (company timeline)
founded 1846
Remarks: This entry traces the variously entangled Zeiss companies from their foundations to the present, giving an overview of the entire Zeiss enterprise.
Individual subsidiaries also have their own constituent entries, indicating the corporate name, trademark, and logo, used in a given time period. These entries should help people to associate and ascribe the signatures and marks found on instruments or trade catalogues with the right maker, and thereby be better able to date the item.
Zeiss Corporate Timeline
1846–Carl Zeiss (1816-1888) establishes a workshop in Jena to make and sell optical and fine mechanical apparatus. Instruments made by the firm are signed "Zeiss" or "Carl Zeiss" in cursive lettering. The full name of the firm would become Carl Zeiss Optische Werkstätte, Jena (Carl Zeiss Optical Works, Jena).
1847–microscope production begins, first with simple microscopes and then compound microscopes. Optical elements were configured by trial and error rather in accordance with scientific theory.
1866–Zeiss persuades Ernst Abbe (1840-1905), a lecturer in physics at the University of Jena, to develop a mathematical foundation for designing microscope objectives. Zeiss and Abbe begin their collaboration. Abbe becomes director of research at the Carl Zeiss Optische Werkstätte.
1869–Zeiss and Abbe patent a device to illuminate objects under a microscope.
1872–Abbe's study of the limits on sharp imaging caused by the wave nature of light leads to his formulation of the "Abbe sine condition." Abbe's theory of image formation becomes the basis for the design of high performance optics.
1880s–The Zeiss microscopes built using Abbe's theory are widely praised. Production increases at the workshop, and larger facilities are found on the outskirts of Jena in the early 1880s. Better optics requires not just better theory but better glass. Otto Schott (1851-1935), a chemist specializing in glass manufacturing, sets up a workshop in Jena in 1882.
1884– Otto Schott, Ernst Abbe, Carl Zeiss, and Roderich Zeiss establish Glastechnisches Laboratorium Schott & Genossen (Schott and Associates Glass Technology Laboratory). The company later changed its name to Jenaer Glaswerke Schott & Genossen. (Today it is known as Schott AG). Another Schott & Genossen Glaswerke is set up in Mainz.
1889–Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung (loosely translated as Carl Zeiss Foundation) is set up by Ernst Abbe one year after the death of Carl Zeiss. The Stiftung manages the various Zeiss concerns and research activities, including the Carl Zeiss Optische Werkstätte, Jena and the Jenaer Glaswerke Schott & Genossen.
1891–Ernst Abbe transferred his shares in the Zeiss Optische Werkstätte (Zeiss Optical Works) and the Schott Glaswerke (Schott Glass Works) to the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung. Roderich Zeiss later did the same, and in 1923 Schott added his shares in the glass works to the foundation.
1890s–The Zeiss Optical Works expands its catalogue of instruments to include refractometers, spectrometers, photo-optical instruments, rangefinders, telescopes, and binoculars.
1892--Bausch and Lomb of Rochester, New York, becomes the sole American company licensed to make Zeiss "anastigmats" and other lenses. The production of Zeiss products in the U.S. enables Zeiss to bypass costly import tariffs. This agreement is terminated during World War I.
1904–Carl Zeiss trademarks a new logo consisting of "CARL ZEISS / JENA" within the borders of a achromatic doublet lens.
1908–The company begins production of spectacles and ophthalmological instruments and geodetic instruments in Jena. Moritz van Rohr (1868-1940), a scientist takes charge of the design of prescription lenses, patenting in 1909 the revolutionary "Punktal" lens with equal quality over a wide field of view.
By World War I–Carl Zeiss, Optische Werkstätte, Jena has marketing branches in Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Vienna, and London, and sales agents worldwide.
World War I–Production of consumer and civilian instruments is interrupted by military demands made on the company. After the war, production of civilian instruments resumes alongside that of military devices.
1925–Carl Zeiss Jena incorporates its distribution office in New York City as Carl Zeiss, Inc. at 485 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. Regional offices were set up in Chicago and Los Angeles.
1926--Carl Zeiss Jena merges the major firms of Ica, Contessa Nettel, Ernemann and Goerz into the firm of Zeiss Ikon. The logo is "ZEISS / IKON" within the borders of an achromatic doublet lens. The firm produces photographic equipment.
World War II–Zeiss produces equipment for the German armed forces. Carl Zeiss, Inc. continued to do business in New York throughout the war.
1945–The Jena factory is partially destroyed during the war. US troops occupy the Zeiss works for several months. The Americans take 126 management staff and scientists with them to their occupation zone in the West.
1946–In the newly founded firm, Opton Optische Werkstätte Oberkochen GmbH – a year later to become Zeiss-Opton Optische Werkstätte Oberkochen GmbH – the deported managers continue to operate the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung enterprise with the support of the Jena foundation. An office of the foundation is set up in Heidenheim as Zeiss Stiftung von Jena. The Schott Glaswerke subsidiary continues to operate in Mainz.
1946-1947–The new occupiers of Jena, the Soviets dismantle the production equipment and take tooling, scientists, and engineers back to the USSR to be part of the Kiev camera works.
1948–The German Economic Commission (DWK) nationalizes the assets of the Carl Zeiss Optische Werkstätte, Jena and the Schott Glaswerke of the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung in Jena. Both factories are taken over by the East German state and become "people's own enterprises." The new company names are VEB Carl Zeiss Jena and VEB Jenaer Glaswerk.
East German Zeiss products are labeled Carl Zeiss Jena for sale in Western bloc countries. The Eastern company continues to use the logo of "CARL ZEISS / JENA" within the borders of an achromatic doublet lens. West German Zeiss-Opton products are labeled Opton for sale in Eastern bloc countries. The new logo for Zeiss-Opton products is "ZEISS / OPTON" within the borders of the achromatic doublet lens.
The partition of Germany also splits Zeiss Ikon into East and West divisions.
Carl Zeiss, Inc. in New York imports products from both the Zeiss Jena and Zeiss Oberkochen factories.
1949–Heidenheim becomes the legal domicile of the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung.
1951–The firm Carl Zeiss is entered into the commercial register of Heidenheim district court. Initially it sold just precision mechanical and optical equipment.
1953--Carl Zeiss takes over Zeiss-Opton in October 1953. To avoid confusion, the Western company is often referred to as "Carl Zeiss (Oberkochen)." Its new logo is "Carl / Zeiss" within the borders of the achromatic doublet lens.
Two Zeiss companies–one in East and one in the West–grow separately.
1971–London agreement is reached between the two companies governing the use of names and trademarks containing the component "Zeiss." VEB Carl Zeiss Jena is permitted to offer its products in Eastern Block countries and parts of the Middle East. Carl Zeiss (Oberkochen) is given the right to sell products in the West under the name of Carl Zeiss. Its new trademark is a bold logotype, "ZEISS."
1989–Fall of the Berlin Wall
1990–The political change in the German Democratic Republic also spells a change in the relations between the Zeiss enterprises in the East and West. The enterprises declare their intention to fuse under the umbrella of a Carl Zeiss Foundation that would be legally domiciled in both Jena and Heidenheim. VEB Carl Zeiss Jena is privatized in 1990-1991, with JENOPTIK GmbH and Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH emerging.
1991–The unified Zeiss takes on a new logo consisting of the logotype "ZEISS" in a banner. The company letterhead has become "ZEISS Germany."
1995--Carl Zeiss (Oberkochen), acquires the shares held by Jenoptik GmbH in Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH and is now the sole owner.
1996--The enterprise Carl Zeiss celebrates its 150th anniversary.
1846–Carl Zeiss (1816-1888) establishes a workshop in Jena to make and sell optical and fine mechanical apparatus. Instruments made by the firm are signed "Zeiss" or "Carl Zeiss" in cursive lettering. The full name of the firm would become Carl Zeiss Optische Werkstätte, Jena (Carl Zeiss Optical Works, Jena).
1847–microscope production begins, first with simple microscopes and then compound microscopes. Optical elements were configured by trial and error rather in accordance with scientific theory.
1866–Zeiss persuades Ernst Abbe (1840-1905), a lecturer in physics at the University of Jena, to develop a mathematical foundation for designing microscope objectives. Zeiss and Abbe begin their collaboration. Abbe becomes director of research at the Carl Zeiss Optische Werkstätte.
1869–Zeiss and Abbe patent a device to illuminate objects under a microscope.
1872–Abbe's study of the limits on sharp imaging caused by the wave nature of light leads to his formulation of the "Abbe sine condition." Abbe's theory of image formation becomes the basis for the design of high performance optics.
1880s–The Zeiss microscopes built using Abbe's theory are widely praised. Production increases at the workshop, and larger facilities are found on the outskirts of Jena in the early 1880s. Better optics requires not just better theory but better glass. Otto Schott (1851-1935), a chemist specializing in glass manufacturing, sets up a workshop in Jena in 1882.
1884– Otto Schott, Ernst Abbe, Carl Zeiss, and Roderich Zeiss establish Glastechnisches Laboratorium Schott & Genossen (Schott and Associates Glass Technology Laboratory). The company later changed its name to Jenaer Glaswerke Schott & Genossen. (Today it is known as Schott AG). Another Schott & Genossen Glaswerke is set up in Mainz.
1889–Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung (loosely translated as Carl Zeiss Foundation) is set up by Ernst Abbe one year after the death of Carl Zeiss. The Stiftung manages the various Zeiss concerns and research activities, including the Carl Zeiss Optische Werkstätte, Jena and the Jenaer Glaswerke Schott & Genossen.
1891–Ernst Abbe transferred his shares in the Zeiss Optische Werkstätte (Zeiss Optical Works) and the Schott Glaswerke (Schott Glass Works) to the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung. Roderich Zeiss later did the same, and in 1923 Schott added his shares in the glass works to the foundation.
1890s–The Zeiss Optical Works expands its catalogue of instruments to include refractometers, spectrometers, photo-optical instruments, rangefinders, telescopes, and binoculars.
1892--Bausch and Lomb of Rochester, New York, becomes the sole American company licensed to make Zeiss "anastigmats" and other lenses. The production of Zeiss products in the U.S. enables Zeiss to bypass costly import tariffs. This agreement is terminated during World War I.
1904–Carl Zeiss trademarks a new logo consisting of "CARL ZEISS / JENA" within the borders of a achromatic doublet lens.
1908–The company begins production of spectacles and ophthalmological instruments and geodetic instruments in Jena. Moritz van Rohr (1868-1940), a scientist takes charge of the design of prescription lenses, patenting in 1909 the revolutionary "Punktal" lens with equal quality over a wide field of view.
By World War I–Carl Zeiss, Optische Werkstätte, Jena has marketing branches in Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Vienna, and London, and sales agents worldwide.
World War I–Production of consumer and civilian instruments is interrupted by military demands made on the company. After the war, production of civilian instruments resumes alongside that of military devices.
1925–Carl Zeiss Jena incorporates its distribution office in New York City as Carl Zeiss, Inc. at 485 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. Regional offices were set up in Chicago and Los Angeles.
1926--Carl Zeiss Jena merges the major firms of Ica, Contessa Nettel, Ernemann and Goerz into the firm of Zeiss Ikon. The logo is "ZEISS / IKON" within the borders of an achromatic doublet lens. The firm produces photographic equipment.
World War II–Zeiss produces equipment for the German armed forces. Carl Zeiss, Inc. continued to do business in New York throughout the war.
1945–The Jena factory is partially destroyed during the war. US troops occupy the Zeiss works for several months. The Americans take 126 management staff and scientists with them to their occupation zone in the West.
1946–In the newly founded firm, Opton Optische Werkstätte Oberkochen GmbH – a year later to become Zeiss-Opton Optische Werkstätte Oberkochen GmbH – the deported managers continue to operate the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung enterprise with the support of the Jena foundation. An office of the foundation is set up in Heidenheim as Zeiss Stiftung von Jena. The Schott Glaswerke subsidiary continues to operate in Mainz.
1946-1947–The new occupiers of Jena, the Soviets dismantle the production equipment and take tooling, scientists, and engineers back to the USSR to be part of the Kiev camera works.
1948–The German Economic Commission (DWK) nationalizes the assets of the Carl Zeiss Optische Werkstätte, Jena and the Schott Glaswerke of the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung in Jena. Both factories are taken over by the East German state and become "people's own enterprises." The new company names are VEB Carl Zeiss Jena and VEB Jenaer Glaswerk.
East German Zeiss products are labeled Carl Zeiss Jena for sale in Western bloc countries. The Eastern company continues to use the logo of "CARL ZEISS / JENA" within the borders of an achromatic doublet lens. West German Zeiss-Opton products are labeled Opton for sale in Eastern bloc countries. The new logo for Zeiss-Opton products is "ZEISS / OPTON" within the borders of the achromatic doublet lens.
The partition of Germany also splits Zeiss Ikon into East and West divisions.
Carl Zeiss, Inc. in New York imports products from both the Zeiss Jena and Zeiss Oberkochen factories.
1949–Heidenheim becomes the legal domicile of the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung.
1951–The firm Carl Zeiss is entered into the commercial register of Heidenheim district court. Initially it sold just precision mechanical and optical equipment.
1953--Carl Zeiss takes over Zeiss-Opton in October 1953. To avoid confusion, the Western company is often referred to as "Carl Zeiss (Oberkochen)." Its new logo is "Carl / Zeiss" within the borders of the achromatic doublet lens.
Two Zeiss companies–one in East and one in the West–grow separately.
1971–London agreement is reached between the two companies governing the use of names and trademarks containing the component "Zeiss." VEB Carl Zeiss Jena is permitted to offer its products in Eastern Block countries and parts of the Middle East. Carl Zeiss (Oberkochen) is given the right to sell products in the West under the name of Carl Zeiss. Its new trademark is a bold logotype, "ZEISS."
1989–Fall of the Berlin Wall
1990–The political change in the German Democratic Republic also spells a change in the relations between the Zeiss enterprises in the East and West. The enterprises declare their intention to fuse under the umbrella of a Carl Zeiss Foundation that would be legally domiciled in both Jena and Heidenheim. VEB Carl Zeiss Jena is privatized in 1990-1991, with JENOPTIK GmbH and Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH emerging.
1991–The unified Zeiss takes on a new logo consisting of the logotype "ZEISS" in a banner. The company letterhead has become "ZEISS Germany."
1995--Carl Zeiss (Oberkochen), acquires the shares held by Jenoptik GmbH in Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH and is now the sole owner.
1996--The enterprise Carl Zeiss celebrates its 150th anniversary.
The Zeiss Historica Society: http://www.zeisshistorica.org/
A detailed description of the history of the company and its leading figures: www.company7.com/zeiss/history.html
For the company's milestones and history, see the <a href="http://www.zeiss.com/C12567BE0045ACF1/Contents-Frame/20D1FA535B9D8B08C1256C020024B193" target="_blank">corporate history link</a> at www.zeiss.com.