Carl Gassner

Carl Gassner was a German physician (17 November 1855 in Mainz – 31 January 1942), scientist and inventor, better known to have contributed to improve the Leclanché cell and to have fostered the development of the first dry cell, also known as the zinc–carbon battery, less likely to break or leak and that could be effectively industrially produced at large scale.

[1] Gassner studied the medicine at the University of Strasbourg and then practiced in Mainz (Germany) as a specialist in diseases of the eyes and ears.

[2] In 1885, Gassner also decided to modify the Leclanché cell by immobilising the liquid electrolyte in plaster of Paris used as a porous binder, to which he added hydrophilic chemicals and zinc chloride.

His dry cell became known in 1890, when a friend of his shopkeeper asked him for help because the door bell did not work.

Subsequently, the director of the Erfurt post-office ordered 100,000 batteries, forcing Gassner to establish a factory in Frankfurt.

He could have earned millions of marks, but for peace he renounced all the rights of the Frankfurt company and the production was interrupted.