214 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 176 



Signal : 



Telegraph insulators (Nos. 1182, 1280) (illustrated example pi. 50, v). Two 

 specimens, of green glass (2% inches in diameter; S% inches in height). 

 The design of these two is slightly different, though both are of the type 

 generally familiar today, having an interior molded thread for securing 

 them to a threaded wooden pin fixed to a crossarm of the telegraph 

 pole. One of the specimens (No. 1280) bears the molded lettering: 

 "Cauvet's/Pat./July 1865." Published records show that a patent was 

 issued to Lewis (or Louis) A. Cauvet, New York, N.Y., for such a tele- 

 graph insulator, presumably one of the first uses of glass for insulation 

 in this fashion (U.S. Patent Office, Ann. Rep. Comm. of Patents for 1865, 

 published 1867, vol. 1, p. 554 and illustration). On the evidence of the 

 insulators found, and the description of the patent, this type was not 

 covered with wood, as was sometimes the case on the frontier, largely 

 to prevent destruction of the insulators by the Indians. It is known from 

 the Ground Plan of Fort Stevenson, 1879, that the post was provided 

 with a telegraph oflice at that period (Mattison, 1951 a, opp. p. 28). 



INDIAN SCHOOL GOODS 



Desks (Nos. 69-75, 140, 373, 758, 792). Approximately 50 parts of cast-iron 

 frames of school desks were found in excavation, particularly at the site of 

 the Hospital, but elsewhere also. Only selected parts, complete in themselves or 

 carrying distinctive designs or lettering, were collected. All had apparently 

 been damaged by the fires that destroyed the buildings. The frames are of 

 two slightly different designs, having open grillwork, and two sizes of desks 

 are represented, as marked in cast letters "C" and "D" (Nos. 74, 69). These 

 desks, of which the frames have been preserved, all appear to have been manu- 

 factured by the "Sterling School/Furn. Co./Sterling, 111.," as appears from the 

 cast letters on several specimens (Nos. 73, 637). Patent dates are legible on 

 one specimen (No. G9) showing that patents were issued on Jan. 21, 1873 [?] 

 and June 5, 1877. Published records show that a patent for school desks was 

 issued to one C. H. Presbrey, Sterling, 111., on the latter date (U.S. Patent 

 Office, 1877; specifications and illustration). A distinctive feature was a 

 "fluke-shaped" nut, of which specimens are preserved on the frames collected. 

 The Sterling School Furniture Co., of Sterling, 111., originally known as the 

 Novelty Iron Works Manufacturing Co., was organized as a stock company in 

 1869, and was renamed in 1873. Charles H. Presbrey was one of the directors, 

 and the "Sterling Seat" was among the various types of school equipment man- 

 ufactured by the company, and widely sold (Bent, 1877, pp. 431^32). 



Inkwells (Nos. 49, 101-164, 298, 370, 371, 568-570). Cast-iron inkwell covers, 

 doubtless originally part of the desks mentioned above. These wells were 

 furnished with a small sliding cover bearing the die-stamped lettering : "N I W/ 

 Sterling/Ill." The legend probably stands for "Novelty Iron Works." 



Slates (Nos. 43, 80, 81, 191, 223, 309, 419-422). Fragments of school slates, 

 none of which is sufiiciently well preserved to indicate the size of original 

 surfaces. 



Slate pencils (Nos. 44, 98, 132, 136, 308, 339, 349, 443-447, 554, 577, 912, 1658, 

 1768). Fragments of school slate pencils (%6 inch diameter). Though some 

 of the fragments show roughly flat surfaces, most appear to have been machine 

 turned. 



Chalk pencils (Nos. 133, 209, 448). Fragments (approximately %6 inch 

 diameter). 



