and Laboratory Methods. -•^'^^ 



One not well acquainted with the requirements of a large modern manufac- 

 turing establishment would be surprised at the number and variety of the arti- 

 cles required to be kept in stock in this department. A trip through it would 

 disclose stores of hardware, cloths, metals, brushes, boxes, papers, soaps and 

 articles too numerous to mention, sufficient to stock a large general store. 



In the early stage of the business Mr. Bausch gave his personal attention to 

 the supervision of the work and to the inspection of the finished product, but as 

 the manufactures increased this work devolved upon the younger members of 

 the company. The subsequent enlargement of the plant, with the increased 

 producing power, and larger number of workmen, made it impossible for them 

 adequately to oversee all parts of the work-shop, and it was necessary to entrust 

 their duties to others. This involved the development of a system of supervis- 

 ion and inspection, which in itself is a marvel of intricacy and perfect adapta- 

 tion to the purpose for which it was devised. 



Each article, whether simple or complex, must not pass out of the establish- 

 ment until it is fully up to the standard of quality established for it, as a defect, 

 no matter how insignificant, whether in a special lens, a photographic objective, 

 a searchlight, or in the optical performance of a microscope objective, will 

 seriously affect the reputation of the company. The constant aim is to reach a 

 higher standard of excellence, to foster a spirit of higher attainment in the pro- 

 ductive force, and to eliminate the possibility of the production of work defect- 

 ive in any way. With the mass of detail connected with the production of 

 thousands of different parts, of many different kinds of material, for an infinite 

 variety of purposes, the assembling of them, fitting them, until they form a com- 

 plete whole, requires an inflexible system in the conduct of the work-shop, an 

 untiring vigilance of inspection at every process, and an accumulation of skill in 

 the workmen which must be complete in every detail, in order that every article 

 turned out may be uniform in quality with every other. 



Desiring to provide some temporary means of support for employees who are 

 thrown out of employment through sickness, and to assist the families of deceased 

 members, the Bausch & Lomb Optical Company Mutual Benefit Association was 

 organized April 16, 1881. 



Any person having been in the employ of the company two months' time 

 may become a member of the association. Since its establishment this society 

 has paid out in benefits to its members over $34,500. The membership at the 

 present time is 930. 



In 1900 a fund was established by Mr. J. J. Bausch, Mr. Henry Lomb and 

 the company, with a desire to assist in providing a comfortable future for em- 

 ployees who have served the company many years. 



The fund was materially increased by them on this anniversary. 



The technical nature of the business and the necessity for coming in close 

 contact with the trade made it necessary to establish a series of branch offices, 

 and in addition to the office opened in New York in 1866, and which is now in 

 charge of Mr. Henry Fincke, an office was established in Chicago in 1896 under 

 the management of Dr. Wm. H. Knap, and another office was opened in Boston 

 in 1903 under the management of Mr. L. M. Potter. These offices are con- 

 ducted largely as a convenience to the trade, as the company has business rela- 

 tions with nearly every dealer in optical goods in America. 



In 1902 a separate company under the title of the Bausch & Lomb Optical 

 Company, G. m. b. H., was organized in Germany. This office is at Frankfurt, 

 a/m, under the management of Mr. August H. Lomb. This company does a 

 general merchandizing business in chemical glassware and different kinds of 

 scientific apparatus, as well as in the Bausch & Lomb Optical Company's pro- 

 ducts, both selling in Europe and exporting to America. This company also 

 owns the glass factory for the manufacture of chemical glassware. The demand 

 for Bausch & Lomb products abroad has made it necessary to establish depots in 



