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Private company

Goerz

Historical German company for photographic lenses and cameras

C. P. Goerz was founded in 1886 by Carl Paul Goerz. Originally, it made geometrical drawing instruments for schools. From 1888 it made cameras and photographic lenses.2 It employed 2,500 people.1 It ceased to exist in 1926.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1886Founded1
  • HeadquartersBerlin1
  • Founded inBerlin1
  • Legal formjoint-stock company1

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C.P.Goerz
Photo: Eugene Ilchenko, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons3

C. P. Goerz was founded in 1886 by Carl Paul Goerz. Originally, it made geometrical drawing instruments for schools. From 1888 it made cameras and photographic lenses. During the First World War, 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) 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.2

The story

Founded by Carl Paul Goerz in 1886, in Berlin.1

Leadership

Who has led Goerz, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Products and brands

  • camera lens
  • still camera

Listed on Wikidata.1

Acquisitions

  1. Succeeded Sendlinger Optische Glaswerke GmbH1

Timeline

  1. 1926Dissolved Dissolved1
  2. 1886Founded Founded in Berlin1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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