Iron stand which supports a sample tube between two Nicol-prisms - a polariser and an analyser. As monchromatic light passes through the tube, the plane of polarisation of the light will rotate if the sample is optically active. A stand is provided for a Bunsen burner to heat the sample.
The rotation is measured by turning the analyser to match the intensities of two areas with different polarizations, and reading the scale which is provided with two verniers reading to 0.01o.
The amount of rotation is proportional to the concentration of the sample. Therefore polarimeters were used in industries dealing with the production of sugar, starch, jam, condensed milk, wine, oils and drugs.
RW