Obituary of Joseph Zentmayer

Mr. Zentmayer, whose name was well known to users of optical instruments all over the world, was born in Manheim, Germany, March 27th, 1826. He learned his trade as a maker of mathematical, optical and astronomical apparatus in his native place, and subsequently worked at Karlsruhe, Frankford, Munich, and Hamburg. At the latter city, he was employed in the establishment of Repsold Brothers, who are celebrated for their instruments of precision, which are believed to be unrivaled, and which are found in many leading observatories in this country and in Europe.

Mr. Zentmayer came to America in 1848, and, for a time, worked in Washington, Cleveland, and later in this city with the Messrs. Young & Sons. He established himself in business here in 1853, and about two years later made his first large microscopes for the late Dr. Paul Beck Goddard, Dr. Joseph Parker, and for the Academy of Natural Sciences. From that time he devoted his energies toward the perfection of the microscope, and at the present time his instruments enjoy a world wide reputation for their superior mechanism. Mr. Zentmayer participated in the scientific observation of the total eclipse of the sun in August, 1867, and made the instruments for the photographic outfit used on that occasion. In 1865, he made a photographic objective, having a novel combination of lenses, for which he obtained a patent. He was a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences, The Franklin Institute, from which he received a gold medal, honorary member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, member of the Photographic Society of Philadelphia, German Society, German Hospital, and the Young Maennerchor.