Currently indexing
polarimeter
Date: circa 1875
Inventory Number: 2003
Classification: Polarimeter
Subject:
Maker: Louis Jules Duboscq (French, 1817 - 1886)
User: Department of Geology and Geography, Harvard University (1890 - 1961)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
48 × 21.5 × 38.3 cm (18 7/8 × 8 7/16 × 15 1/16 in.)
Bibliography:
Appareil de Projection dans la lumière polarisée: Présenté à la Société de Physique le 8 Mai 1874 et dècrit dans le Journal de Physique par Monsieur Bertin, Tome IV, 1875.
Description:
A tripod stand on a telescopic rod supports a track. The latter can be inclined by a wingnut screw. Fixed on the track are two large brass rings that can move along it. Tightening screws underneath each ring were used to secure them in place during an experiment. One of them (close to the light source) has no optical element but is equipped with a wheel diaphragm. The other has a telescopic eyepiece equipped with a Nicol prism, but no lens. In between these two sections is an articulated forceps clamp designed to hold a crystal sample. Besides it is a light condenser. Both move together on the track.
Other accessories (such as those found in 1997-1-1477a) could be added to this polarimeter.
The number "22" handwritten on small piece of paper has been glued on the instrument in several places.
Other accessories (such as those found in 1997-1-1477a) could be added to this polarimeter.
The number "22" handwritten on small piece of paper has been glued on the instrument in several places.
Signedon tube, script: J. Duboscq / à Paris
FunctionUsed with a box of accessories (such as 1997-1-1477a) this polarimeter could perform several type of experiments with polarized light, such as white polarization (with the black mirrors); Arago's experiment with chromatic polarization; crystal polarization; spectra of all sorts; experiments with liquid solutions using a saccharimeter tube; etc. The light source had to be powerful, and was thus provided by a lantern projector like the ones mentioned in the related section of this entry.
For the original description of this instrument, see the Duboscq trade catalogue at the following website.
For the original description of this instrument, see the Duboscq trade catalogue at the following website.
ProvenanceFrom the Department of Geology and Geography (mineralogy), Harvard University.
