After Heinrich Wild left Wild Heerbrugg in 1931, he designed as a freelancer new instruments for Kern & Co. Aarau and on Mai 13. 1988 Kern & Co. was sold to Wild Heerbrugg ...
therfore I will also give you a ovewrview over the history from Kern:
therfore I will also give you a ovewrview over the history from Kern:
Milestones of Kern & Co. Aarau
1819 Jakob Kern (August 17, 1790 - February 4, 1867) founded the "Mechanische Werkstätte Jakob Kern" Aarau, Switzerland
Jakob Kern (August 17, 1790 - February 4, 1867) founded the "Mechanische Werkstätte Jakob Kern" Aarau, Switzerland
- Jakob Kern wuchs im Glarnerland auf bevor er als kleiner Junge Voillwaise wurde und von Johann Rudolf Meyer (1739-1813, Textilfabrikant in Aarau) aufgenommen wurde. Das ermöglichte ihm eine gute Schulbildung.
- Es ist ebenfalls Meyer, der Louis Esser aus Strassburg nach Aarau holt. 1801 gründet Esser ein mechanisches Atelier für Zirkelkonstruktion und Reisszeugfabrikation und Kern absolviert dort seine Lehrzeit. Danach geht er für 14 Jahre auf Wanderschaft in die grossen Werkstätten in Deutschland. 1819 kommt er gut ausgebildet zurück nach nach Aarau zurück und macht sich selbständig.
- Er fabriziert neben Reisszeugen auch astronomische und geodätische Instrumente (physikalische Apparate und Vermessungsinstrumente).
The first items produced were drawing instruments.
(This picture came from the first pricing brochure) |
Later, he became well known for his geodetic and astronomical instruments:
This theodolite was purchased in 1835 by the well known General Dufour, who made the first triangulation survey in Switzerland. |
1857 New location & the 2 sons of Jakob Kern joined the firm
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Ziegelrain, Aarau: 
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Adolf Kern-Saxer (1826-1896)
Drawing Instruments 
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Emil Kern-Rychner (1830-1898)
Surveying Instruments 
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1863 Jakob Kern retired from business
1885 Adolf Kern retired from the business and his son Heinrich Kern (1857-1934) assumed management responsibility for the firm.
1885 new name: Kern & Co.
1897 Emil Kern retired from business
1914 foundation of a company: Kern & Co. AG
1920 New location: Schachen, Aarau
Schachen, Aarau 1920
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Schachen, Aarau 1979
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1933 Heinrich Kern retired from business
His son Walter Kern (1888 - 1974) was managing the firm
1945 The first subsidiary firm formed in the USA.
Others were formed in 1972 in Canada; 1976 in Brazil and Denmark.
1961 Peter Kern, 5th generation family member, (1921- )
joined the board of directors.
13.May 1988 Merged with the Wild Leitz group.
1991 After over 170 years, the company Kern & Co. Ltd. closes
Today
Thanks to the initiative of a group of farsighted people in 1988, a valuable collection of historical instruments and equipment, business and development files, drawing sets, production and advertising material was passed to the City Museum Schlössli in Aarau.
The "collection Kern" as the estate of a once successful, global industrial company is an important part of the history of technical and industrial culture.
After an extensive renovation of the premises of the civil defence building, close to the Schlössli Aarau, the "Kern study collection" was opened to the public.
Now they also have a website: (a click on the Logo will lead you to there site)
Thanks to the initiative of a group of farsighted people in 1988, a valuable collection of historical instruments and equipment, business and development files, drawing sets, production and advertising material was passed to the City Museum Schlössli in Aarau.
The "collection Kern" as the estate of a once successful, global industrial company is an important part of the history of technical and industrial culture.
After an extensive renovation of the premises of the civil defence building, close to the Schlössli Aarau, the "Kern study collection" was opened to the public.
Now they also have a website: (a click on the Logo will lead you to there site)