He ran a type foundry in Frankfurt am Main, Germany for three years with Christian Nies, before founding the Bauersche Gießerei in 1837.
Wilson in Edinburgh, where he could study punch-cutting and type founding, as Great Britain was at that time in the forefront of the industry.
While still in Edinburgh, he founded the firm of Bauer, Furgusson et Huie, though upon his return to Germany in 1847 the foundry was renamed Englische Schriftschneiderei und Gravieranstalt (English Typecutting and Engraving Works).
A prolific craftsman, Bauer cut more than 10,000 punches with his own hands, though few of his designs are in use today as they are typical of the excesses of pre-Arts and Crafts Movement nineteenth century design.
By the end of his life, the Bauer foundry was a worldwide concern.