black and white - How did first B&W enlargers work?

I made some researches online to try to understand how the first enlargers worked.
I think that first enelargers started being used in the 1880s, considering kodak produced its first camera in 1888.
What I really want to know is the main idea behind the enlargement process, what instruments played the most important roles (what kind of lens was used), and if the process had any impact on the quality and the sharpness of the image.