The history of Möller-Wedel Optical

The great genius Johann Diedrich Möller was born on March 16, 1844 in his parents’ house in Wedel. He studied the use and handling of optical instruments, such as microscopes and telescopes, which were already well developed at that time. He completed his apprenticeship at Easter 1864 with distinction. He then began an apprenticeship with what was then probably the best-known optician in northern Germany, Dr. Hugo Schröder in Hamburg. Within a few months, he learned to manufacture and process glass for optical components and devices, such as lenses and prisms, which were then incorporated into microscopes, for example. Soon he built his first own microscope and just a few months later, at the age of 20, he founded his own company in his parents’ house. This is the beginning of the industrial age in Wedel.

After the sudden death of his father, Hugo Möller took over the business in 1907. He was born in Wedel on August 8, 1880, the second son of the taxidermist Johann Diedrich Möller and his wife Johanna. He joined his father’s business as an apprentice at the end of 1897. In the years that followed, J.D. Möller’s order book grew steadily. All the well-known companies were among the customers. When his father Johann Diedrich died quite suddenly in October 1907, Hugo Möller was able to continue the business.

Building on the contacts made by his father in other European countries, such as z.B. England and Russia, Hugo Möller succeeded in increasing exports of his high-quality products to these countries in the years around 1912. For this purpose, new employees had to be hired and soon more than 100 skilled workers were working for the company. Soon, another site on the Rosengarten was purchased for an expansion of the company.

In 1920, the J.D. Möller company applied for patent D.R.P. No.: 358868. The patent describes a penta-prism, with which the size of the binoculars could be made much more compact.

In 1925, the company JDM was transformed into a limited liability company J. D. Möller Optische Werke GmbH.

In 1934, the eldest son Alfred, who had graduated from the Technical University of Berlin, joined his father’s company.

In 1950, Möller launched the first goniometer spectrometer on the market, which was still in use at PTB until 1999.

In the 1960s Möller-Wedel developed modular autocollimators, initially for its own use.

Möller Wedel takes over the measuring instruments division of ASKANIA in 1970 with interferometers, spherometers, test tubes and goniometers.

In 1990, J.D.Möller Optische Werke GmbH (later Möller-Wedel GmbH) was integrated into the Haag-Streit Group, headquartered in Köniz, Switzerland, which still heads Möller-Wedel Optical today as part of Metall Zug AG.

Electronic Autocollimator

With the aim of aggressively expanding the market position of Möller measuring instruments, the company Möller-Wedel Optical GmbH was founded as a subsidiary of Möller-Wedel GmbH with effect from 01.01.2000.

Measuring station for centring and aligning optical systems

The company is now also a DAkkS accredited calibration laboratory for the dimensional measurand: angle – angle standards.

Möller-Wedel Optical has been developing motorised collimators for the automotive industry since 2021.

Brand launch of a cine autocollimator for film camera rental and service.