Otto Boettger (1842-1907)

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Otto Böttger (1 September 1842-1 August 1907) was a significant optical and scientific instrumentmaker in Adelaide. While he ran his business for only 20 years, it gained such a high reputation that it became the major supplier of scientific and engineering instruments to the South Australian colonial government and the Boettger name continued as the business name into the 1970s.

Otto Böttger
Born1842
Elberfeld, Rhine Province, Prussia (Elberfeld, Düsseldorf, Rheinprovinz, Preussen)
Died1 August 1907
Cologne, Rhine Province, Prussia, Germany (Köln, Rheinprovinz, Prussia, Deutsches Reich)
Nationality
  • Prussian
  • British
Other names
  • Otto Boettger
Occupation
  • Optical and scientific instrumentmaker
Spouse(s)

Biography

Created by Benjamin Hollister and made available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0.

In Germany and Russia

Böttger was born on the first of September, 1842, in Elbrefeld, near the city of Dusseldorf, in the Rhine Province of Prussia, the son of Wilhelm and Julia (née Schmidt) Böttger. At the time Elberfeld was predominantly Protestant with 11 Lutheran and Reformed churches. It is likely that Otto attended a church school until the age of 10, when he transferred to a technical high school, followed by his apprenticeship as an instrumentmaker at the age of 14. In the early and mid 19th century, Elberfeld and the nearby Barmen were the most industrialised towns in any of the German states, with Elberfeld referred to as the "German Manchester", and also suffered from the associated issues of poverty and pauperism.[1] The civic response was the beginning of the industrial welfare state in Greater Germany.[2]

Otto appears to have served only a short apprenticeship of 4 years, leaving for Berlin in about 1860, and joining the Prussian Army in 1863, a requirement of all young men at the time. Initially he served with the Corps of Artillery, but transferred to the Corps of Engineers, most likely to make use of his engineering and instrument-making skills. With the engineers responsible for surveying in the military, this is probably where he had his initial exposure to the field of surveying that would stand him in good stead on his arrival in the Australian colonies.

After completing his required 3 years in the military, Böttger joined a company in St Petersburg, Russia in the position of foreman. There are discrepancies between information on his time here and whether he was a part owner and the company failed cannot be ascertained, but after 5 years, in 1870, he was called up to serve in the Franco-Prussian War. The war lasted only from July 1870 to January 1871, and Otto returned to Russia briefly before moving back to Berlin and then back to Elberfeld. By 1877, he had married Johanne Maria Luisa Anna Vielhaack of Mecklenburg, and in May that year the couple emigrated on the ship Papa.[3]

In Australia

Arriving at Port Adelaide in July 1877, the couple soon moved to the heart of the German quarter of the city, living and working in Gawler place. Initially Otto worked for the firm of A. W. Dobbie and Co., providing maintenance and repair work for customers of the foundry, but by January 1878 he was listing himself separately as a mathematical and surgical instrumentmaker in Gawler Place, submitting a patent for a "Mechanical Apparatus for Raising and Cooling Beverages of all kinds through compressed purified and cooled air", and by February of the same year was in business with D. Schmidt as manufacturers of industrial machines.[4][5] The partnership did not last long, and Böttger was soon advertising his own business, situated in Flinders Street (on the site of the current Department of Education, opposite the old Stow Memorial Manse), a location he operated from until the end of 1881, when he relocated to the premises on Flinders Street he is most widely known for. [6][7]

The move to larger premises was made possible by the contract work obtained from the SA Colonial Government Surveying Department, who in 1880 chose Böttger as the only local creator and supplier of theodolites and other survey instruments, both because of the high quality of work, the ease of accessibility, and the lower prices.[8] This work set Otto up for the rest of his business life in Australia as his reputation grew, firstly across government in the other Australian colonies, then in the private and higher education sectors, as a supplier of high quality scientific, optical and engineering instruments. One widely noted instrument was specially built for the Happy Valley Reservoir inlet tunnel in 1896. [9]

Böttger maintained connections with other members of the German community on Adelaide and was a member of the committee of the German Club in Pirie Street, along with other city businessmen such as Friedrich Armbruster, Rudolph Büring, and Carl Wittig.[10][11][12]

In 1894, Otto made a trip back to Germany for health reasons, staying in Europe for 6 months.[13][14] It was this illness that led to the sale of his successful business to his employee Georg Kohler and Otto's eventual permanent return to Germany.

Return to Germany and death

On March 4, 1899, Otto and Johanne left South Australia aboard the Barbarossa, bound for Bremen and retirement in Germany. [12][15][16] He died in 1907 and Johanne continued to live in Köln (Cologne) until her death in 1921.

Timeline

Date Event Source Notes

Family

Otto and Johanna did not have any children, and none of their relatives lived in South Australia.

Residences in the City

Dates Place Current Address Co-ordinates

Work in the City

Dates Place Current Address Co-ordinates

Published Obituary

From the Advertiser, Wednesday 4 September 1907:

Personal

The death occurred at Cologne recently of Mr. Otto Boettger, the well-known Adelaide , optician and instrument-maker. The deceased, who was 65 years of age, was born in Elberfeldt, Germany, and came out to Australia in 1877. He had previously conducted a large business in St. Petersburg, but the venture not proving successful he determined to emigrate to Adelaide. His first engagement was with Mr. Dobbie cleaning old keys and repairing machinery. Starting in business for himself, his great knowledge of surveying and engineering instruments led the Government to place all their work in this department in his hands, and the results proved eminently satisfactory. About 10 years ago the business in Flinders-street was transferred to Mr. G. C. Kohler, who was an apprentice of Mr. Boettger's at one time, and had been with him nearly 30 years. Mr. and Mrs. Boettger then returned to Germany to spend the remainder of their lives in retirement. The deceased left no family. [17]


From the Observer, Saturday 7 September 1907:

Obituaries of the Week

Mr. Otto Boettger

Mr. Otto Boettger,-the well-known optician and scientific instrument .maker, of Flinders street, died, recently at Cologne. Born at Elberfeldt, Rhine, Germany, in 1842, he entered the technical school of that city at the age of 10, and when 14 was apprenticed to an instrument maker, with whom he remained for four years. He then went to Berlin, and in 1863 joined the artillery branch of the Prussian Army from which he was transferred to the engineers corps. Three years later he secured a position as foreman in an establishment at St. Petersburg, and retained the post for five years. When the Franco-Prussian war broke out in 1870 he was called upon to fight in the Prussian Army. At the close of the war he returned to Russia, whence, in 1872, he proceeded to Berlin and Hamburg. From the latter city he came to South Australia, and arrived at Port Adelaide on June 25, 1877. After he had spent some time in the employment of Mr. Dobbie, he began business on his own-account, and advanced rapidly. Owing to his thorough and practical acquaintance with surveying and engineering instruments the Government gave him all its fine scientific instrument work, and Mr. Boettger also executed many orders for intricate scientific mechanism for savants in the other States and New Zealand. At one time he was the recognised instrument maker to the Queensland Meteorological Department. About 10 years ago Mr. Boettger sold the business in Flinders street, which has since been carried on under the old denomination, and returned with his wife to the Fatherland to spend his declining years. [18]

Photo gallery

  • Boettger's Observatory House [SLSA B-1804]

  • Boettger's Observatory House [SLSA B-2719]

References

  1. ↑ https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elberfeld
  2. ↑ Willis, James (2016). The Elberfeld System: Poor Relief and The Fluidity Of German Identity In Mid-Nineteenth Century Germany (MA (History)). Boise State University. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  3. ↑ "Staatsarchiv Hamburg, Bestand: 373-7 I, VIII (Auswanderungsamt I). Mikrofilmrollen K 1722; Volume: 373-7 I, VIII A 1 Band 034 A; Page: 130". Ancestry.com. 1877. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  4. ↑ "Advertising". The Express And Telegraph. Vol. XV, , no. 4, 192. South Australia. 14 January 1878. p. 1. Retrieved 28 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  5. ↑ "Advertising". South Australian Register. Vol. XLIII, , no. 9745. South Australia. 7 February 1878. p. 2. Retrieved 28 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  6. ↑ "Advertising". South Australian Register. Vol. XLIV, , no. 10, 034. South Australia. 11 January 1879. p. 3. Retrieved 28 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  7. ↑ "Advertising". South Australian Register. Vol. XLIV, , no. 10, 034. South Australia. 11 January 1879. p. 3. Retrieved 28 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  8. ↑ "Latest News". Evening Journal. Vol. XII, , no. 3435. South Australia. 17 April 1880. p. 2. Retrieved 28 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  9. ↑ "THE HAPPY VALLEY WATERWORKS". Adelaide Observer. Vol. LIII, , no. 2, 854. South Australia. 13 June 1896. p. 41. Retrieved 29 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  10. ↑ "Advertising". South Australian Register. Vol. LV, , no. 13, 689. South Australia. 27 September 1890. p. 1. Retrieved 29 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  11. ↑ "Die Bismarck-Stiftung". Australische Zeitung. Vol. LI, , no. 46. South Australia. 15 November 1899. p. 1. Retrieved 29 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "No title". Australische Zeitung. Vol. LI, , no. 10. South Australia. 8 March 1899. p. 5. Retrieved 29 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  13. ↑ "Shipping News". South Australian Chronicle. Vol. XXXVI, , no. 1, 859. South Australia. 7 April 1894. p. 3. Retrieved 29 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  14. ↑ "Queensland". Australische Zeitung. Vol. XLVI, , no. 51. South Australia. 19 December 1894. p. 2. Retrieved 29 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  15. ↑ "Shipping News". Chronicle. Vol. 41, , no. 2, 116. South Australia. 11 March 1899. p. 6. Retrieved 29 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  16. ↑ "FAIR AND UNFAIR". Quiz And The Lantern. Vol. X, , no. 493. South Australia. 2 March 1899. p. 5. Retrieved 29 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  17. ↑ "PERSONAL". The Advertiser. Vol. L, , no. 15, 251. South Australia. 4 September 1907. p. 6. Retrieved 27 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  18. ↑ "OBITUARIES OF THE WEEK". Observer. Vol. LXIV, , no. 3, 440. South Australia. 7 September 1907. p. 38. Retrieved 27 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)

External links

  • Boettger, Otto. 1896, Catalogue of engineering, surveying, optical and scientific instruments manufactured and imported by Otto Boettger, optician and scientific instrument maker to the South Australian and other governments.. [Otto Boettger], Adelaide viewed 29 September 2023 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-39928893
  • Randell, Mark (2011) ‘Otto Boettger: Manufacturing optician, Flinders Street, Adelaide’, Tappet Chatter: Newsletter of the Adelaide Hills Motor Restorers Club, http://www.ahmrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/otto-boettger-optician.pdf
  • Corporation of the City of Adelaide, 'Observatory House', Heritage Places Information Sheets Series, https://d31atr86jnqrq2.cloudfront.net/heritage-places/heritage-place-information-sheet-84-86-flinders-street.pdf
  • Morrison, W. Frederic & Aldine Publishing Company (1890). The Aldine history of South Australia, illustrated : embracing sketches and portraits of her noted people: the rise and progress of her varied enterprises: and illustrations of her boundless wealth: together with maps of latest survey. The Aldine Publishing Company, Sydney ; Adelaide, pp. 702-703
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