Abstract: A method and apparatus for assessing the flatness of a metal anode (e.g. a foraminous titanium anode) which comprises measuring the capacitance of the electrical capacitor formed by urging towards each other under a predetermined load the working surface of said anode and a rigid plane sheet of an electrically conducting material (e.g. copper) as the other plate of the capacitor with a sheet of dielectric material (e.g. polytetrafluoroethylene) therebetween. The apparatus is preferably provided with a compensating weight device to offset the additional weight of the anode current lead-in rod.