WW1 Period Field Desk Inkwell?

[gatetraveller]

I have a James Topham 1908 contract field desk that I restored for reenacting/living history events.

 

I have been trying to get together all of the regulation items for stocking the desk. I managed to locate several lists of the required contents.

 

The regulations call for ink tablets rather than bottled ink, which makes sense. However, ink tablets still have to be reconstituted in order to write with the ink, so I assume they had bottles of some kind for this?

 

The desk has two inkwells which are 1.5" in diameter, but I have been unable to locate any period ink bottles which will fit the desk holes. Almost everything is wider than 1.5". Does anyone have any idea what ink containers were used with this field desk?

 

Thank you!

 

Brian

[Ronnie]

I don't have a clue but would like to see a photo or two of your desk.

Thanks.

Ronnie