Blattner & Adam
1872-1891

The successor to Jacob Blattner’s operation of 30 years was the company, Blattner & Adam. It was formed around 1871, upon Jacob Blattner’s forced retirement due to failing eyesight. The principals were Henry Blattner, Jacob's son, and Frank Adam, Jacob's son-in-law. The business remained in the same location as before, at 220 North 4th Street.


The firm sold optical goods and manufactured and sold mathematical instruments, surveyor's chains, plumb bobs, compasses, levels and transits. Blattner & Adam also specialized in repair. Their 1882 catalog stated: "Our facilities for the manufacture and repair of engineering and surveying instruments are unexcelled." They probably took trade-ins, for in the same catalog the customer was advised to send for their monthly bargain list of second-hand transits, levels, compasses and other engineering instruments.

They advertised in their catalog an "Engineers Y level of most approved form and construction...has an 18" telescope with large, strong Y's made of the best bell metal. The level bar is made...of well hammered brass as to possess the greatest strength...." This level was priced at $135 ($2477 in 2000 dollars). Also in the catalog was an engineer's transit which "...has a telescope of 10" or 12" constructed with the finest lenses, has two verniers at right angles to the telescope reading to single or 1/2 minute." They also offered a surveyor's transit for the same price, $180 ($3302 in 2000 dollars). This transit featured a vernier on the compass plate for setting off magnetic variation.

Diversification soon came to Blattner & Adam. Because of their technical experience and skill, they installed and serviced some of the first electrical equipment in St. Louis. Frank Adam was very interested in electricity and was one of the first men in St. Louis to be properly called an electrical engineer. He undertook to install signal fire alarms for the city and after 1876 performed this work exclusively. Electrification was also applied to Blattner & Adam's own operation. In 1888 a two-horsepower electric motor was installed to drive the machinery for the manufacturing end of the business.

Frank Adam was born February 2, 1838 in Freiburg, Baden, Germany, one of the twelve boys and one girl born to Frederick and Maria E. Adam. He was educated in Germany but immigrated to the United States at the age of 15 in 1853. He first worked as a watchmaker’s apprentice in Newark, New Jersey and then as a journeyman watchmaker in Richmond, Virginia. He proved to be so skillful that his employers, Mitchell and Tyler, paid a substitute to take his place in the Confederate Army. He then relocated in Montreal, Canada, where he worked with Learmont. He came to St. Louis in 1865 and was employed by Jehu Sylvester. 1869 listed him in the St. Louis City Directory as having a position with Jacob Blattner.

On January 7, 1869 Frank Adam married Jacob Blattner's daughter, Louisa. The union produced four children: Frederick B., William, Anna M., Harry C. and Edwin C. The eldest child, Frederick Blattner Adam, was raised in the business, starting work at the age of 16, making links for surveyor's chains. Young Frederick later was promoted to making plumb bobs and compasses using a foot powered lathe.

Henry Blattner learned his trade under the tutelage of his father, Jacob Blattner. Henry had an inventive turn of mind. In 1882 he was granted patent number 264,061 for a surveyor’s transit with folding standards for easier transport and storage. Henry was also one of the early developers of dry plate photography.

In 1891 the Blattner & Adam store was obtained by a real estate developer for the site of the Rialto Building. The firm was dissolved and split into three parts. Henry Blattner took the optical business and moved to 706 Olive. Frank Adam took the electrical department and established Frank Adam Electric, doing business at 807 Market. Adolph Wissler, who set up shop at 202 North 6th Street, acquired the instrument-manufacturing department.

Henry Blattner eventually sold the optical business and concentrated exclusively on special photography. Frank Adam died September 12, 1922. He was survived by his four children and was interred at Bellefontaine Cemetery.

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