Nicol prism
Date: 1872-1882
Inventory Number: 2018b
Classification: Prism
Maker: W. Ladd & Company (fl. 1872 - 1882)
Owner: Department of Geology and Geography, Harvard University (1890 - 1961)
User: Josiah P. Cooke ? (1827 - 1894)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
prism: 19.5 × 26.2 × 18 cm (7 11/16 × 10 5/16 × 7 1/16 in.)
case: 22.9 x 40.9 x 28.9 cm (9 x 16 1/8 x 11 3/8 in.)
Accessories: wooden case
Description:
This rather large prism is enclosed in a brass cylinder, both ends of it closed with glass windows. The prism is meant to be rotated inside the casing, and small handles are provided at each end for that purpose. The instrument sits on a wooden base made for it. It is stored in a wooden box (not original) when not in use.
Signedon top, script: W. Ladd & Co,, / London
FunctionNicol prism is a special type of prism used for polarizing light. As the name indicates, it was invented by William Nicol (1770-1851) of Edinburgh, in 1828. For more information go to the following website.
Curatorial Remarks2018a & 2018b are stored together in wood case. Letter concerning the prisms' origins found with them. A photocopy is now kept with these instruments and the original was placed in the instruments' file in the CHSI Library. According to this letter, they may have been purchased by J. D. Whitney of the School of Mines or perhaps obtained by the Lawrence Scientific School of engineering. Another possibility is that they were bought by J. P. Cooke to be used in his mineralogy courses. They thus came to the Department of Geology and Geography after it was founded in the early 1890s.
ProvenanceFrom the Department of Geology and Geography, Harvard University.