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Here's the scoop:

"The firm of Cassens and Benecke in Breman had been founded in 1902 by
Captain Tanne Jansen Cassens and a certain Benecke; this firm sold nautical
instruments on a comparatively modest scale. When, in 1908, Benecke left the
firm for unknown reasons, Captain Cassens offered Theodore Plath the chance
of becoming his new partner. Theodore Plath accepted on the condition that
the firm should also contain the name Plath after the change, and so the
general partnership of Cassens and Plath, Nautical Institute, was founded
with effect from 1st April, 1909 and, on 10th April it was entered in the
commercial register of the Bremen Municipal Court.

It was, of course, not the firm's intention to produce its nautical
instruments in Bremen as well. The function of the Nautical Institute
Cassens and Plath was rather to ensure that the compasses, sextants and
numerous other nautical instruments produced by C.Plathe in Hamburege were
also marketed in Bremen shipping circles. Furthermore, it could act as a
repair and servicing station for ships in Bremen equipped with Plath
instruments. This arrangement worked until a completely different set of
circumstances led to the sale of Plath's share of the business to its Bremen
partner in 1962."

Reference: From Sextant to Satellite Navigation. 1867 - 1987. 150 years.
C.Plath.  Friedrich Jerchow.

It should be noted that C.Plath was bought out by Litton Industries in 1962.

The above is the "official" story. I understand that after the split, there
was some "discussions" about Cassens and Plath using the name "Plath" in
their company.

Robert


----- Original Message -----
From: "Dan Allen" 
To: 
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2004 12:40 PM
Subject: Re: C+P


> I had long believed them to be very similar, but then I became aware that
> others said that they had nothing in common and were completely different
> companies with a coincidental name that made people think they were
related.
>
> Does anyone on this list know the real scoop on the C. Plath and Cassens &
> Plath relationship, if any?
>
> Dan
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
> From: Navigation Mailing List
> [mailto:NAVIGATION-L@LISTSERV.WEBKAHUNA.COM]On Behalf Of Steven Wepster
> Sent: Friday, March 19, 2004 6:43 AM
> To: NAVIGATION-L@LISTSERV.WEBKAHUNA.COM
> Subject: C+P [was Re: Sisteco Prismatic Compass]
>
> C.Plath and Cassens+Plath sextants look so similar
> that I suspect they come from the same drawing table---perhaps even
> out of the same workshop.
>
>

   

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