Bausch and Lomb records

John Jacob Bausch and Henry Lomb, both German immigrants, met in Rochester, New York when Bausch was trying to establish himself as an optician. In 1853, Bausch approached Lomb about becoming a partner in an optical company, asking Lomb to invest his $62 savings. Bausch came up with the idea of making frames from rubber instead of horn while Lomb was away fighting in the Civil War. This transition from horn to rubber led to decreased production costs and increased sales. The firm expanded its operations and began producing lenses for a variety of purposes including microscope, binocular, and camera lenses. By 1890, Bausch & Lomb Optical Company had established itself as a major manufacturing force in Rochester, employing over 3,000 employees and producing 15 to 20 million lenses per year. In 1928, Bausch & Lomb Optical Company celebrated their 75th anniversary. Henry Lomb served on the Board of Trustees for the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute from 1885-1891. His cousin Carl Lomb also served on the board from 1916-1939. Many other prominent Bausch and Lomb executives also contributed to the board and growth of the University, including M. Herbert Eisenhart.