Since Kern & Co. AG, Aarau is also related to Wild Heerbrugg and I also
collect Kern instruments I will give you also a overview about there history.
And on the following page will I give you some information how to date your
Kern instrument:
How old is my
Kern instrument
| Date |
Action / Milestones |
| 1819 |
| Founding of Mechanische Werkstätte "Jakob
Kern" Aarau,
Switzerland |
Jakob
Kern (August 17, 1790 - February 4, 1867) |
 |
 |
|
| |
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 |
|
| 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 |
| 1.June
1920 |
New location: Schachen, Aarau
(1920 and 1979)
  |
| 1933 |
Heinrich
Kern retired
from business
His son Walter Kern (*1888) 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. Aarau 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)
|
