C. P. Goerz was founded in 1886 by Carl Paul Goerz. Originally, it made geometrical drawing instruments for schools. From 1888 it made

camera A camera is an Optics, optical instrument that can capture an image. Most cameras can capture 2D images, with some more advanced models being able to capture 3D images. At a basic level, most cameras consist of sealed boxes (the camera body), ...

s and

photographic lens A camera lens (also known as photographic lens or photographic objective) is an optical lens or assembly of lenses used in conjunction with a camera body and mechanism to make images of objects either on photographic film or on other media capab ...

es. During the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, Goerz's main production was for the German and Austrian military. Goerz is known primarily for Anschütz strut-folding cameras, Dagor and Tengor lenses, Tenax cameras (later continued by

Zeiss Ikon Carl Zeiss AG (), branded as ZEISS, is a German manufacturer of optical systems and optoelectronics, founded in Jena, Germany in 1846 by optician Carl Zeiss. Together with Ernst Abbe (joined 1866) and Otto Schott (joined 1884) he laid the f ...

) and Minicord subminiature cameras. C. P. Goerz also made a series of telescopic sights for sporting rifles that saw some use during the shortage of military sniping rifles experienced during the early stages of the trench warfare that was to characterise much of the First World War. In 1895 Goerz founded a branch in New York that was to become the C. P. Goerz American Optical Company in 1905. This company continued to operate independently in the USA until 1972. In 1908, Goerz Photochemisches Werk GmbH was founded in

Zehlendorf, Berlin Zehlendorf () is a Boroughs and localities of Berlin, locality within the borough of Steglitz-Zehlendorf in Berlin. Before Berlin's 2001 administrative reform Zehlendorf was a borough in its own right, consisting of the locality of Zehlendorf as w ...

. This company produced roll film and film for the movie industry. In 1926 the German branch of Goerz merged with ICA, Contessa-Nettel and Ernemann to form Zeiss Ikon. This had major consequences for the company. The

Carl Zeiss Carl Zeiss (; 11 September 1816 – 3 December 1888) was a German scientific instrument maker, optician and businessman. In 1846 he founded his workshop, which is still in business as Carl Zeiss AG. Zeiss gathered a group of gifted practica ...

company held a majority stake in the new company and demanded that the other firms end their lens production. Thus the European Dagor lenses were made by Carl Zeiss Jena in limited number. The American branch was an independent company and was therefore able to continue production in America.

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Bolex Collector , Lenses , Goerz
C. P. Goerz American Optical Company: history and a list of cine lenses {{DEFAULTSORT:Goerz (Company) Photography companies of Germany Lens manufacturers Technology companies established in 1886 Defunct companies of Germany 1886 establishments in Germany 1926 mergers and acquisitions Technology companies disestablished in 1926 1926 disestablishments in Germany