Ink bottle
Photo courtesy of US National Museum of American History (2014.0244) Gift of Dr. Richard Lodish American School Collection
Government issued bottle of ink for classroom use.
“The desks had flip up seats and an open shelf under the desk, and an inkwell. It is strange there were not accidents with open ink and straight pens, before fountain pens as we know today. The inspector noticed all the ink splattered on the wall, because the teacher would allow the students to shake excess ink off … the kids got heck and so did the teacher. Those ink bottles with the lids off did not get tipped over (often, but) they did make a mess and stain. Kids handled them over all quite well.” Leah Uffleman