Businessman. Born in Gross Suessen, Württemberg; at 18, he relocated to Berne, Switzerland, where he worked as a lens grinder. In 1850, he emigrated to the United States, where he settled in Western New York where in 1853, he opened a specialist optician shop in Rochester, selling imported spectacles, telescopes, microscopes, and opera glasses. In 1855, Henry Lomb invested in the shop and became his partner. The struggling business offered inexpensive and durable spectacle frames of vulcanized rubber led to their first success as a business. In 1864 they named the company Bausch and Lomb, Opticians. By the 1870s, water-powered lens grinders producing the first optical-quality glass made in America. By 1885, Bausch & Lomb had become Rochester's biggest industry, manufacturing microscopes, binoculars, camera lenses and shutters. In 1908 the firm was incorporated as Bausch and Lomb Optical Company, Inc. In 1915, Bausch and Lomb manufactured motion picture camera lenses for a new industry, and during the First World War I they produced range finders, gun sights, torpedo tube sights, telescopes, periscopes, and related instruments for the US armed forces. He remained actively involved in the business for his entire life, often working alongside his employees. After his death at age 95, his company continued to grow, becoming the largest optical company in the world; creating specialized motion picture lenses for the production of Cinemascope films, resulting in an Academy Award for industry contributions, lenses for the first satellite pictures of the moon, Ray-Ban sunglasses, and the first soft contact lenses. It was named to the Fortune 500 list of America's leading companies in 1975, and is one of the oldest firms operating in the United States.
Businessman. Born in Gross Suessen, Württemberg; at 18, he relocated to Berne, Switzerland, where he worked as a lens grinder. In 1850, he emigrated to the United States, where he settled in Western New York where in 1853, he opened a specialist optician shop in Rochester, selling imported spectacles, telescopes, microscopes, and opera glasses. In 1855, Henry Lomb invested in the shop and became his partner. The struggling business offered inexpensive and durable spectacle frames of vulcanized rubber led to their first success as a business. In 1864 they named the company Bausch and Lomb, Opticians. By the 1870s, water-powered lens grinders producing the first optical-quality glass made in America. By 1885, Bausch & Lomb had become Rochester's biggest industry, manufacturing microscopes, binoculars, camera lenses and shutters. In 1908 the firm was incorporated as Bausch and Lomb Optical Company, Inc. In 1915, Bausch and Lomb manufactured motion picture camera lenses for a new industry, and during the First World War I they produced range finders, gun sights, torpedo tube sights, telescopes, periscopes, and related instruments for the US armed forces. He remained actively involved in the business for his entire life, often working alongside his employees. After his death at age 95, his company continued to grow, becoming the largest optical company in the world; creating specialized motion picture lenses for the production of Cinemascope films, resulting in an Academy Award for industry contributions, lenses for the first satellite pictures of the moon, Ray-Ban sunglasses, and the first soft contact lenses. It was named to the Fortune 500 list of America's leading companies in 1975, and is one of the oldest firms operating in the United States.
Bio by: Iola
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