the first bow American, by W.H. Wright and G.L. Thorne, made of light wood, D-shaped section, iron grip painted black with circular opening for arrows, four blades within the circle to secure the arrow, faint painted scrollwork, stamped 'pat.Mar.11, 1879 No. 5', metallic nocks in the shape of longbow nocks (one cracked), 71.5 inches; the second of ovular section, swelling to an ovular grip pierced with a centre hole, reinforced with a brass plate on the belly secured by screws, hook-shaped brass nocks, with accompanying bowstring tipped with two leather tabs for securing to the hooks, 71.5 inches, the third similar, with flatbow section, two leather bands below the centre hole and a brass ring embedded below the bands (missing bowstring), 74 inches

William H. Wright, of Rochester, and George L. Thorne, of Buffalo, New York, filed one of the earliest patents for a centre-shot bow. They describe their invention in the patent as follows:

'The object of our present invention is the production of a bow which is capable of being readily bisected for transportation and other purposes, and put together when wanted for use. Its object is, furthermore, to provide for a convenient guide for the arrow; and, lastly, to improve the construction of said arrow.'

The design was intended to be used alongside an arrow with hair or wire-cloth fletchings, which could better withstand being shot through the blades. The arrow was also weighted with an inner metallic rod near the point. For further information, see Patent US213083A (Wright and Thorne, 1879).

According to the late Bill Terry, the other two bows in this lot were reportedly used to cast telephone lines over obstacles and up slopes during the early stages of the introduction of the telephone. This would make them a similar age to Wright and Thorne's bow, which is reinforced by their similar design.