Note: This item is currently in storage.

This is one of five items that provide a special peek into the footlocker of a World War I American soldier. 1st Lt. Carroll DeWitt McClung was a pilot with the 28th Aero Squadron, 3rd Pursuit Group. He was trained as a pilot in the Nieuport aircraft and then flew the SPAD XIII in combat.

This is a clay ink bottle that once contained blue 4001 ink produced by Pelikan. Around the time of World War I, blue 4001 was the most popular ink color sold by Pelikan.

To fill a fountain pen with ink, the pen’s nib (tip) would be immersed in the liquid ink. A mechanism on the pen would be used to open up the barrel of the pen allowing the liquid ink to be pulled up into and fill the barrel. The user could control the flow of the ink when writing.

This ink bottle is 4-13/16 inches high with a 1-1/2 inch diameter.

Donated by Edgar B. McClung.

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