| The light is admitted into the far end of the instrument and is polarized by passing through a Nicol prism. |
| The aluminum handle used to rotate the Nicol prism assembly is clearly not original. |
| It is also used in optical instrument such as polarizing microscopes and Nicol prisms. |
| Polarization can be verified by rotating either the Nicol prism or the Polaroid, which is between the Nicol prism and the lens in the photograph. |
| Below the stage is a mirror to reflect light up through the specimen and a Nicol prism can be swung in to polarise the light. |
| Although its significance went unrecognised at the time, the Nicol prism is now used in all polarising microscopes today. |
