Da Kern & Co. AG, Aarau stark verbunden ist mit Wild Heerbrugg und ich auch Kern Instrumente sammle habe ich hier einen Überblick über deren Historie erstellt.
Auf dieser Seite finden Sie zusätzliche Informationen um das Alter der Instrumente zu bestimmen:
Wie alt ist mein Kern Instrument
Founding of Mechanische Werkstätte "Jakob Kern" Aarau, Switzerland
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 for the well known General Dufour, who made the first triangulation survey in Switzerland.
The two sons of Jakob Kern joined the firm.
New location: Ziegelrain, Aarau:
Adolf Kern retired from the business and his son Heinrich Kern (1857-1934) assumed management responsibility for the firm.
new name: Kern & Co.
Emil Kern retired from business
foundation of a company: Kern & Co. AG
New location: Schachen, Aarau (1920 and 1979)
Heinrich Kern retired from business
His son Walter Kern (*1888) was managing the firm.
The first subsidiary firm formed in the USA. Others were formed in 1972 in Canada; 1976 in Brazil and Denmark.
Peter Kern, 5th generation family member, (1921- ) joined the board of directors.
Merged with the Wild Leitz group.
After over 170 years, the company Kern & Co. Ltd. Aarau closes
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:
(click on the Logo will lead you to there site)