He was the eldest of seven children of John Laubmann, carpenter and joiner, and Sophie Caroline (née Matte), both of German origin.
Educated at Norwood Primary School, his family were in humble circumstances, so the teenager was early obliged to make his own way in the world.
That same year, having noted that optician services were in demand in rural and regional areas, he set up business in the mining town of Broken Hill.
In 1907 a 25-year-old Adelaide optometrist, Harold George Pank (1882–1935), paid Laubmann a courtesy call while visiting Broken Hill as a musician.
[4] A firm friendship quickly formed, particularly as Harold Pank and Maude Laubmann shared a common interest in music, he being a talented cellist.
Harold Pank married in 1910 to Johanna Hower (1878–1930), a trained nurse from Victoria, who also became active in the business in its early years.
In 1913 Carl was a foundation member of the South Australian Optical Association, being immediately elected to its council, a position he held for many years.
[7] Always experimenting, the men invented and developed several important optical instruments, lenses, and processes, for which patents were granted both in Australia and overseas.
[8] In 1927 the now prosperous partners undertook a world trip, visiting many of the famous optical manufacturers throughout Britain, Europe and the United States.
In Germany they visited scientist Albert Einstein, personally delivering a report of observations from the South Australian Government Astronomer concerning the theory of relativity.
Shortly before World War II the company diversified further, into hearing aids and photography, while more branch offices were added.