Caroline Emilie Bleeker (1897-1985)
Bleeker studied mathematics at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands. At that time, higher education was rare for women. In 1928 she received her PhD in physics under the supervision of Leonard Ornstein, Professor of Experimental Physics. In 1930, Bleeker began a successful physics consultancy company in Utrecht. As well as giving advice, she also produced scientific and optical equipment. In 1937, she expanded the company by adding an optical division (probably in association with Frits Zernike (1888-1966). Initially, the factory produced binoculars. During World War II, few binoculars were produced.
In 1949, Bleeker moved from Utrecht to a more spacious building in Zeist. The company expanded, bolstered by the production of the phase contrast microscopes invented by Frits Zernike. This milestone in microbiology won him the Nobel prize for Physics in 1953 (extensively reported in the personnel magazine De Loupe).
The production of cheaper, lower quality microscopes by other companies caused financial difficulties for the Bleeker factory, and in 1963 Bleeker resigned as CEO. In 1978, Nedoptifa was taken over by Oldelft.
Caroline Bleeker is one of the important women of Dutch history whose life is described in the book ‘1001 Women in the 20th century‘ and was part of the exhibition in the Amsterdam Museum from 3 October 2018 to 10 March 2019. Caroline Bleeker’s biography is also included in the Digital Women’s Lexicon of the Netherlands (DVN), an online collection of biographies of the most remarkable women of the history of the Netherlands.
Compound achromatic microscope, stand S
BLEEKER
1939-1948
Compound achromatic microscope, stand S
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Compound achromatic microscope, stand S, opened
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Compound achromatic microscope
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Compound achromatic microscope, type S, phase contrast
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Compound achromatic microscope, type S, binocular tube
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Compound achromatic microscope on box
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Inspection microscope
BECK KASSEL CBS
1950-1970
Compound achromatic microscope, stand S, phase contrast
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Compound achromatic microscope, stand S, with binocular tube
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Compound achromatic pseudoscopic microscope
BLEEKER
1955-1960
Compound achromatic pseudoscopic microscope
BLEEKER
1955-1960
Compound achromatic microscope, stand K
BLEEKER
ca. 1960
Compound achromatic microscope, stand K
BLEEKER
ca. 1960
Compound achromatic microscope, stand M
BLEEKER
1962-1965
Compound achromatic microscope, stand M
BLEEKER
1962-1965
Reversed microscope, type W, binocular tube
BLEEKER
ca. 1962
Compound achromatic workshop microscope
BLEEKER
ca. 1962
Compound achromatic microscope, stand R
BLEEKER
ca. 1965
Compound achromatic microscope, stand R
BLEEKER
ca. 1965
Compound achromatic microscope, stand R
BLEEKER
ca. 1965
Micrometer eyepiece
BLEEKER
ca. 1950
Tube of the Bleeker S microscope, opened
BLEEKER
ca. 1950
Tube
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Microscope lamp
BLEEKER
ca. 1950
Microscope lamp
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Dark field condenser
BLEEKER
1950-1970
Microscope lamp
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Objective lenses, type A
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Astro eyepieces
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Bright field condenser
BLEEKER
1950-1970
Dark field condenser
BLEEKER
1950-1970
Lenses and prisms
BLEEKER
ca. 1950
Drawing prisms
BLEEKER
1955-1965
Drawing prism
BLEEKER
1955-1965
Screw micrometer eyepiece
BLEEKER
1960-1962
Microscope lamp
BLEEKER
ca. 1960
Microscope lamp
BLEEKER
ca. 1960
Microscope lamp
BLEEKER
ca. 1960
Binocular tube for stand R
BLEEKER
1960-1970
Microscope tube with revolver and vertical illuminator
BLEEKER
1960
Microscope tube with revolver and vertical illuminator
BLEEKER
1960
Achromatic magnifier 12×
BLEEKER
1940-1950
Achromatic magnifier 8×
BLEEKER
1940-1955
Achromatic magnifier 12× and 10×
BLEEKER
1940-1947
Folding hand magnifier
BLEEKER
1940-2017
Cytometer
BLEEKER
1940-1960
Spectroscope
BLEEKER
1946-1950
Porro prism binocular 6×24
BLEEKER
ca. 1950
Grating spectroscope
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Refractometers/saccharimeters
BLEEKER
1945-1965
Universal refractometer after Abbe
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Porro prism binocular 6×30
BLEEKER
ca. 1950
Universal refractometer after Abbe
BLEEKER
1950-1955
Viewer cathetometer
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Universal refractometer after Abbe
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Refractometer or Saccharimeter opened
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Porro prism binocular 6×30
BLEEKER
ca. 1950
Porro prism binocular 6×24
BLEEKER
ca. 1950
Universal refractometer after Abbe
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Achromatic magnifier 10×
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Refractometer/saccharimeter
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Porro prism binocular 7×50
BLEEKER
ca. 1953
Porro prism binocular 6×30
BLEEKER
ca. 1953
Thread counter
BLEEKER
1955-1965
Thread counter
BLEEKER
1955-1965
Spectroscope
BLEEKER
ca. 1960
Precision resistors, series 24000
BLEEKER
1930-1970
Transformer
BLEEKER
1935-1945
Mirror galvanometers
BLEEKER
1940-1960
Compensator, type 2165
BLEEKER
1948
Auxiliary box for Diesselhorst compensator, in plexiglass
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Decade box/Resistance box, 1-6 decades
BLEEKER
1940-1960
Transformer
BLEEKER
ca. 1960
Normal resistors
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Teclu burner
BLEEKER
ca. 1950
Resistor switch
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Resistor switch
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Wheatstone bridge
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Compensator
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Wheatstone bridge, type 2160 LD
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Power control box for Diesselhorst compensator, in plexiglass
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Thomson bridge, type 2183
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Diesselhorst compensator, in plexiglass
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Electric discharge instrument
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Wheatstone bridge, type 51201
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Compensator, type 2169
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Compensator, type 2169
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Compensator, type 2169
BLEEKER
1950-1960
Thomson bridge, type 52431
BLEEKER
1955-1965
Auxiliary box for Diesselhorst compensator
BLEEKER
1955-1965
Auxiliary box for Diesselhorst compensator
BLEEKER
1955-1965
Compensator
BLEEKER
1955
Normal resistors
BLEEKER
1950-1975
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The Netherlands
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IBAN: NL53INGB0007728414
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