For the graphite rods- Either arc lamp electrodes, which are pointed on one end and wear down over time as they burn…. https://edisontechcenter.org/ArcLamps.html https://sciencekitstore.com/carbon-electrode-graphite-rod-10-mm-x-100-mm/ Or dry battery carbon rod cores (cathode)…. https://www.thealamo.org/support/preservation/updates/carbon-battery-core https://knowledge.electrochem.org/encycl/fig/c01/c01-f03b.gif This type of artifact has been discussed many, many times on the HISTARCH listserve. You can see them in the archive here: https://community.lsoft.com/scripts/WA-lsoftdonations.exe?A0=HISTARCH The interaction with the HISTARCH Archives is odd and takes some experiments, but you’ll get many pages of posts with useful information. Tim > On Oct 26, 2023, at 3:27 PM, Palich, Kelly <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > Or, as Mitzi said, the electric graphite rods (I can't tell the size by the picture). I do know that they would often be sharpened and reused as a writing implement. > > Kelly > > Kelly M. Palich MA, CIG > Archaeologist/Program Coordinator > Historic and Cultural Resources Section > Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks > [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> > (410) 313-0423 > ________________________________ > From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY <[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>> on behalf of Mitzi Rossillon <[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>> > Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2023 3:25 PM > To: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> <[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>> > Subject: [MARKETING] Re: Artifact Identification and Additional Information > > [Note: This email originated from outside of the organization. Please only click on links or attachments if you know the sender.] > > > The rods are carbon rods (electrodes) used for arc lighting: > > "In a carbon arc lamp, the electrodes are carbon rods in free air. To > ignite the lamp, the rods are touched together, thus allowing a relatively > low voltage to strike the arc. The rods are then slowly drawn apart, and > electric current heats and maintains an arc across the gap." > > On Thu, Oct 26, 2023 at 1:19 PM Stephanie A. O'Brien < > [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote: > >> Hello all, >> >> At the link below are several artifact photos of items we are seeking >> identification of or additional information. These are all derived from an >> urban refuse scatter in southeastern Washington state, likely dating from >> 1880-1910 based on other artifacts. If you have any additional information >> about what these are, how they were used, or when they date from, please >> let me know. These include: >> >> -A colorless glass item that looks a bit like a tumbler but does not appear >> to have a base, perhaps a long lamp shade. >> -A colorless glass item, possibly a decorative goblet stem >> -A possible shell button but with no discernable holes (possibly a metal >> shank was attached to the indented side?) >> -A stoneware fragment with blue lettering >> -An anchor button (any additional information about dating would be >> helpful) >> -Pieces of solid rods, some sharpened to a point, one with a hole in the >> middle >> >> 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