Joseph Schablass & Sohn (fl. 1833-1891)

Joseph Schablass (*1808;†1875) is known to have been one of Vienna's most prominent instrument makers. About his early life and training nothing is known. He founded his own workshop in 1833. Schablass' entries at the Viennese Industrial Exhibition of 1845 were 'mathematical and physical instruments including a complete measuring apparatus for the practical geometer, a levelling instrument, dendrometer, sundials, and a mine surveying instrument'. Especially his sundials win wide acclaim for which he receives many orders domestic and foreign. In the same year as the 1845 exhibition, Schablass places an advertisement in the Wiener Zeitung (fig.2. above) where he describes a wide range of mathematical and surveying instruments made in his workshop, that at the time employed 3 to 4 workers. The Schablass workshop, at the time of the Wiener Exhibition of 1873, had 9 workers.

Schablass' marriage produced at least 4 children; 2 sons and 2 daughters. When the eldest son, Joseph Schablass Jr. (*1834; †1891), joined his father in 1866, the company was renamed Joseph Schablass & Sohn. The other son, Jakob Schablass (*1843;†1909), initially received training in his father's workshop as a Mechaniker, but later became a music composer and Zither instructor.

Joseph Jr.'s son, Jakob Schablass (*1843;†1909) as well as his grandson, Theodor Schablass (*1874;†1946) were well known music composers. 

Fig.1. Schablass at the Viennese Industrial Exhibition of 1845. 

Fig.2. Schablass advertisement in the Wiener Zeitung in 1845.

Fig.3. In Lemoch's 1849 Lehrbuch der praktischen Geometrie, Schablass' plane-table alidade (fig. 89) is described and illustrated along side versions of the same made by Kraft (fig. 87) and Sadtler (fig. 86).

Fig.4. Schablass constructed Franz Grossbauer's 1864 improved version of Georg Winkler's 1834 Taschen-Dendrometer, an instrument used for determining the height of trees in forestry [7][18].  

Fig. 5. Schablass forestry theodolite [9]. 

Fig. 6. Schablass at the Wiener Exhibition in 1873 [13].

Fig. 7. Schablass Verbessertes Winkeltrommel (improved surveyor's square) [10].

Fig. 8. In 1890 the Schablass company was being dissolved and the remaining stock was sold. 

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[1] Verzeichniss der im Jahre 1845 in Wien öffentlich ausgestellten Gewerbs-Erzeugnisse...p. 143. [Google Books].

[2] Schablass' first advertisement. Wiener Zeitung 23. August 1845, p.17. [ANNO]

[3] "Der Aussteller beschäftigt gegenwärtig 3—4 Arbeiter". Journal des Österreichischen Lloyd 14. August 1845, p.7. [ANNO]

[4] Lemoch, Ignaz: Lehrbuch der praktischen Geometrie, vol.1, 1849, plate 4. [E-rara.ch] 

[5] biography of Georg Winkler

[6] Georg Winkler, Beschreibung eines Dendrometers, Wien 1812 [Google Books] 

[7] Georg Winkler; Anleitung zur Construction und dem Gebrauche eines einfachen Taschen-Dendrometers, Wien 1834 [Google Books]. Winkler's Dendrometer is a further development of Konig's Messbrettchen. See Keel, Johann Joseph; Kurze Anleitung zur Behandlung der Waldungen, 1854, p.236 [e-rara.ch].

[8] Franz Grossbauer; Das Winkler'sche Taschen-Dendrometer neuester Construction, 1864. [Google Books]

[9] Carl Breymann; Anleitung zum Gebrauche des forstlichen Universal-Instrumentes, 1867 [Google Books]

[10] Professor Carl Breymann; Die verbesserte Winkeltrommel, Jahrbuch der K.K. Forst-Akademie in Mariabrunn, I. Jahrgang Für die Schuljahre 1868 1869, Wien 1870, p.151. [Google Books], Die verbessertes Winkeltrommel, Wiener Landwirtschaftliche Zeitung, 17. April 1869, p.169-170 [ANNO].

[11] Death of Joseph Schablass sr.: 30 August 1875. Wiener Zeitung 3 September 1875. [ANNO] 

[12] Death of Joseph Schablass jr.: 12 May 1891. Wiener Zeitung 24 May 1891. [ANNO] 

[13] Amtlicher Catalog der Ausstellung der im Reichsrathe Vertretende Koenigreiche und Laender Oesterreichs, p.392. Schablass Josef & Sohn, Mechaniker VIII., Piaristengasse 22. Mathematische Instrumente: Theodolite, Boussolen, einfache und Reflexions Winkelmesser, Nivellir Instrumente, Forst Instrumente, Perspectiv Lineale, Grubencompasse, Pantographe, Planimeter, Maassstäbe, Sonnenuhren etc. 9 Arbeiter [Google Books] 

[14] Oekonomilche Neuigkeiten und Verhandlungen, No. 64, 1848 [ANNO]. 

[15] Beiträge zur geschichte der gewerbe und erfindungen Oesterreichs von der mitte des XVIII. jahrhunderts bis zur gegenwart, Vienna International Exhibition (1873); Exner, Wilhelm Franz, 1840- ed. p.43. [Internet Archiv] 

[16] Geschichte der österreichischen Industrie und ihrer Förderung unter Kaiser Franz I. Mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Grossindustrie und unter Benützung archivalischer Quellen verfasst

[17] Baur, Franz Adolf Gregor; Lehrbuch der niederen Geodäsie, Wien 1858, p.380. [E-rara] 

[18] Müller, Udo; Lehrbuch der Holzmesskunde, Berlin 1915, 2nd ed, p.126-127. 

[19] Graves, Henry S. (Henry Solon); Forest Mensuration 1906, [Internet Archive]