Wild Heerbrugg
Encyclopedia
The Wild company was founded in 1921 in Switzerland
. The company manufactured different optical instruments, such as Surveying instruments, microscope
s and instruments for photogrammetry
among others. The company changed its name several times, first being known as "Heinrich Wild, Werkstätte für Feinmechanik und Optik", then "Verkaufs-Aktiengesellschaft Heinrich Wild's Geodätische Instrumente", later "Wild Heerbrugg AG", later "Wild Leitz". The company was finally linked with Leica in 1989, when it became part of Leica Holding B.V. The company is today part of Leica Geosystems
AG.
Heinrich Wild
(1877–1951), a leading designer of geodetic and astronomical instruments, was born in Switzerland
and began his career as an apprentice surveyor
. In 1908, having invented a military rangefinder and convinced Zeiss to manufacture it, Wild moved to Jena and became head of GEO, the new Zeiss branch responsible for surveying instruments. Wild returned to Switzerland after the First World War. In 1921, with the help of Swiss financiers, he established a Werkstätte für Feinmechanik und Optik in Heerbrugg, in the Rhine Valley. In the early 1930s, having recognized that he was not cut out to be a factory manager, Wild moved to Zurich, severed his connections with the firm in Heerbrugg, and designed instruments for Kern & Co in Aarau. His old firm became Wild Heerbrugg in 1937. It merged with the optical firm of Ernst Leitz of Wetzlar in 1987, acquired a majority interest in Kern in 1988, was renamed Wild Leitz AG in 1989, and became part of the Leica holding company in 1990.
Starting from 1996 the company was divided gradually again into smaller units.
Thus 1996 the Leica Camera AG developed, in October 1997 the Leica Geosystems
AG and on 1 April 1998 the Leica Microsystems
AG.
Today these three companies are all independent public companies. Leica Geosystems produced - in continuation of Wild Heerbrugg - the geodetic instruments and is the global market leader in these section.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. The company manufactured different optical instruments, such as Surveying instruments, microscope
Microscope
A microscope is an instrument used to see objects that are too small for the naked eye. The science of investigating small objects using such an instrument is called microscopy...
s and instruments for photogrammetry
Photogrammetry
Photogrammetry is the practice of determining the geometric properties of objects from photographic images. Photogrammetry is as old as modern photography and can be dated to the mid-nineteenth century....
among others. The company changed its name several times, first being known as "Heinrich Wild, Werkstätte für Feinmechanik und Optik", then "Verkaufs-Aktiengesellschaft Heinrich Wild's Geodätische Instrumente", later "Wild Heerbrugg AG", later "Wild Leitz". The company was finally linked with Leica in 1989, when it became part of Leica Holding B.V. The company is today part of Leica Geosystems
Leica Geosystems
Leica Geosystems based in eastern Switzerland produces products and systems for surveying and geographical measurement...
AG.
History
On 26 April 1921 the company Heinrich Wild, Werkstätte für Feinmechanik und Optik was founded in Heerbrugg from three Swiss technicians:- the surveyor and inventor Heinrich Wild from Glarus
- the officer Jacob Schmidheiny
- and the geologist Dr. Robert Helbling from Flums.
Heinrich Wild
Heinrich Wild
Heinrich Wild was a Swiss inventor, designer and founder of Wild Heerbrugg....
(1877–1951), a leading designer of geodetic and astronomical instruments, was born in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and began his career as an apprentice surveyor
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
. In 1908, having invented a military rangefinder and convinced Zeiss to manufacture it, Wild moved to Jena and became head of GEO, the new Zeiss branch responsible for surveying instruments. Wild returned to Switzerland after the First World War. In 1921, with the help of Swiss financiers, he established a Werkstätte für Feinmechanik und Optik in Heerbrugg, in the Rhine Valley. In the early 1930s, having recognized that he was not cut out to be a factory manager, Wild moved to Zurich, severed his connections with the firm in Heerbrugg, and designed instruments for Kern & Co in Aarau. His old firm became Wild Heerbrugg in 1937. It merged with the optical firm of Ernst Leitz of Wetzlar in 1987, acquired a majority interest in Kern in 1988, was renamed Wild Leitz AG in 1989, and became part of the Leica holding company in 1990.
Starting from 1996 the company was divided gradually again into smaller units.
Thus 1996 the Leica Camera AG developed, in October 1997 the Leica Geosystems
Leica Geosystems
Leica Geosystems based in eastern Switzerland produces products and systems for surveying and geographical measurement...
AG and on 1 April 1998 the Leica Microsystems
Leica Microsystems
Leica Microsystems GmbH is a leading global manufacturer of optical microscopes, equipment for the preparation of microscopic specimens and related products. There are ten plants in eight countries with distribution partners in over 100 countries...
AG.
Today these three companies are all independent public companies. Leica Geosystems produced - in continuation of Wild Heerbrugg - the geodetic instruments and is the global market leader in these section.