Gläser-Karosserie

Gläser-Karosserie GmbH was an important German coachbuilder, based in Dresden, and known in particular as a producer of bespoke cabriolet car bodies. The enterprise was founded in 1864 and lasted, by some criteria, till 1952.

In 1864 Carl Heinrich Gläser () (1831-1902), then a saddler by trade, established a little factory for the manufacture of carriages and sleighs along the Rampischen Alley (Rampischen Gasse 6), near the Frauenkirche, in Dresden.

The quality of the carriages and chaises he produced led to orders from the Royal in Dresden. The business also extended to upholstering, painting and finishing carriages supplied as basic shells by other makers. In 1898 Friedrich August Emil Heuer () who had hitherto been one of the manufacturers supplying unfinished carriages, became a co-owner of the Gläser business. Heuer at this time was running his own forge and carriage workshop at Radeberg, some 18 km (11 miles) east of the city, but his working relationship with Gläser was already well established: he had indeed married Gläser's daughter back in 1885. When Gläser, by now more than 70, died in 1902 Heuer was left as the sole owner of the flourishing business that bore his father-in-law's name.

1902 was also the year in which Gläser-Karosserie decided to diversify into car bodies, although it was not till 1905 that they were able to deliver their first vehicle, using a 45 hp chassis from Daimler of Untertürkheim. Heuer continued to build the business, while his brother Robert Heuer took over the running of the operation in Radeburg. At the luxury end of the market customers were able to specify highly individualised bodies. The company acquired several patents including one for a window opener known as the "Silentium", reflecting its qualities. A small number of tramcars was also produced for Dresden during the early years of the twentieth century. During this time, the Radeberg operation became increasingly closely integrated with the business in Dresden, and taken together the business provided work for approximately 200 people. In 1905 the acquisition of a small steam powered generator at Radeberg gave the operation, for the first time, access to a power supply to support the hand craftsmanship on which operations depended.

...
Wikipedia