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Casartelli: A Dynasty of Optical and Scientific Instrument Makers
The Casartelli family originated from Tavernerio, a small town nestled at the foothills of the Alps in northern Italy. Like many skilled craftsmen from the shores of Lake Como, they moved to England in the early 19th century to continue their trade in the production of scientific and optical instruments. Their history intertwines with other prominent emigrant dynasties such as Ronchetti, Tagliabue, and others.
The earliest known family member was Louis (or Luigi Antonio) Casartelli (1821–1848), who began his career as an optician and philosophical instrument maker. He took over a business in Manchester from Baptist Ronchetti, who had retired around 1810. In 1815, Louis exchanged businesses with Charles Joshua Ronchetti and relocated to Liverpool, continuing his production of optical and physical instruments there.
Between 1845 and 1849, Anthony and Joseph Casartelli worked as partners at 20 Duke Street in Liverpool. However, it was Joseph Louis Casartelli (1823–1900), also known as Giuseppe Luigi, who brought the family its greatest prominence. He emigrated from Tavernerio to join his relatives in Liverpool. In 1851, he married Jane Harriet Ronchetti, daughter of Charles Ronchetti, and by 1852 had inherited Ronchetti’s business.
Joseph Casartelli’s company in Liverpool produced a wide range of instruments, including microscopes, telescopes, cameras, and microphotographic slides. They also actively marketed optical instruments from other manufacturers under their own brand. Their product catalogue included barometers, thermometers, sextants, and navigation instruments, reflecting their expansion and specialization.
In 1882, Joseph’s son, Joseph Henry Casartelli, joined the business, becoming a full partner by 1896. From this point forward, the company operated as Joseph Casartelli & Son. Remarkably, the firm continued to function throughout the economic hardships of the Great Depression in the 1930s. During this period, the company split into three separate entities: two based in Manchester and one in Liverpool, the latter soon becoming known as Casartelli Instruments Ltd.
Thus, the Casartelli dynasty left a notable legacy in British optics and precision science. Their contribution extended beyond manufacturing precision instruments to adapting Italian craftsmanship to meet the needs of the British scientific community. The Casartellis were part of a significant wave of Lombard artisans whose influence shaped the development of English scientific instruments in the 19th century, carving out their own chapter in the history of science, engineering, and design.
