saccharimeter
Date1910-1920
Inventory Number1996-1-0548
ClassificationPolarimeter
Subject
Maker
Franz Schmidt & Haensch
1864-present
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensions22.3 × 41 × 60.5 cm (8 3/4 × 16 1/8 × 23 13/16 in.)
Material
DescriptionThere are two tubes at one end: one containing the analyzer (consisting of a Nicol prism) receiving the light from the polarizer, and one telescope for reading the vernier scale, when the analyzer is rotated. The scale in enclosed inside the cylindrical box and can only be observed through the telescope. At the other end is the fringe polarizing tube, which receives the light from a standard source. In between the polarizer and analyzer is a steel casing to place a saccharimeter tube, which has a hinged cover to make it a dark chamber. The instrument is supported by telescopic structure on a tripod stand.
Signedon instrument: Franz Schmidt & Haensch / Berlin, S. / D. R. P. No. 110001 u. 111936.
Inscribedon tube: No. 5921
Curatorial RemarksA small plaque, over the polarizer, mentions the following: D. R. PAR / No. 82523. This appears to be an instrument-maker name, but so far nothing has been found on this person.
FunctionA saccharimeter is a polarimeter adapted for use with light source (sun or artificial, monochromatic or not), and it measures the optical activity of sugar solutions. The analyzer and polarizer (which are usually prisms) would be aligned such that no light passed through. Then the liquid substance was placed in between them, in a glass vial, and then put within the long tube seen on the picture. Light passing through the liquid creates fringes. The analyzer, close to the eyepiece, would be rotated until the fringes disappeared, and that angle would characterize the optical activity of the substance.
In this example, the instrument's provenance from a health department suggests it may have been used as a diabetometer for measuring the sugar level of urine.
In this example, the instrument's provenance from a health department suggests it may have been used as a diabetometer for measuring the sugar level of urine.
ProvenanceFrom Burlington, Vt., Health Dept. or University of Vermont.
Félix Marie Pellin
Date: circa 1930
Object number: 1996-1-0365b
Hermann & Pfister
Date: circa 1872
Accessories: pine box; instruction manual; glass tubes (2); open-ended tube; gas lamp (DW0854b)
Object number: DW0854a
