Ernst Abbe from Zeiss were the first who described that it is possible to realise an astigmatism corrected lens with only three lens elements but I guess it were Mr. Lee from the Cooke company who realised it in practice a couple of years later.
Abbe were not a designer of photographic lenses, he developed microscope lenses and made a lot of theoretical and calculation jobs.
He realised that it were impossible to measure the parts in the needed precision, so first he had the develope measurement gears and tools to measure and adjust the machined parts of the lenses.
I read it in a journal about lens makes and designers, but maybe you can find further information in the net.
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