Ottomar Anschutz German inventor, photographer Date of Birth: 16.05.1846 Country: Germany

Biography of Ottomar Anschütz

Ottomar Anschütz was a German inventor and photographer who played a significant role in the development of high-speed photography in the 19th century. He was born in Lissa, Posen, Germany. In 1864, Anschütz began his professional career in photography and worked in Berlin, Vienna, and Munich. He initially focused on portrait photography and also worked on decorative and design projects.

Anschütz quickly gained recognition as a talented photographer, and by around 1882, he had become famous in professional circles. However, his most important contributions came in the field of invention, specifically related to photography. One of his most notable inventions was the instantaneous focal plane shutter, which allowed for exposure times as short as 1/1000 of a second, making it invaluable for high-speed photography.

In 1887, Anschütz introduced the "Electrotachyscope," a device designed for the playback of photographs. The Electrotachyscope consisted of a rotating disk capable of holding 24 glass positives. When combined with a Geissler tube, the device could create a lifelike imitation of movement when displaying specially selected photographs. The images could be viewed by either an individual viewer or a whole team, as they were projected onto a prepared surface. The device operated at a speed of 30 frames per second.

Anschütz continuously improved and refined his invention, and soon the Electrotachyscope gained recognition. Serial production of the device was established in two German cities. In the summer of 1892, nearly 34,000 spectators paid to enjoy the Electrotachyscope's performance during an exhibition in Berlin.

An enhanced version of the Electrotachyscope was demonstrated by Anschütz in 1891, and by 1893, approximately 140 such devices had been produced. The Electrotachyscope was showcased at the World Exhibitions in London and Chicago (in 1892 and 1893, respectively), where it received international acclaim. Over time, Anschütz's invention began to be exported beyond Germany and was used for both entertainment and scientific purposes.

Anschütz's expertise in high-speed photography was also sought after by the military ministry in 1886. He was commissioned to create a "moving photograph" of a galloping cavalryman. It was hoped that the frame-by-frame analysis of this photograph would be useful in training new cavalry soldiers.

Anschütz continued to improve the Electrotachyscope, and a new version of his invention was presented in 1894. This updated Electrotachyscope was capable of projecting images on a large scale, approximately 6x8 meters. Additionally, Anschütz's album of photographs depicting flying cranes, released in 1884, inspired Otto Lilienthal to create experimental glider models.

Ottomar Anschütz passed away on May 30, 1907, in Berlin at the age of 61. He died as a result of complications from appendicitis.