Japanese Navy T90 Helmet with Kanji and western numerals

[Heer 17]

Hello Gents,

My first post and my first Japanese helmet.
On the rear skirt is written in Kanji numerals the number 36?223. Would anyone know if the 3rd digit is a dividing stroke or the remains of another Kanji numeral?
On the inside of the dome is written in western numerals 3562.
Are these unit or personal I'd numbers or factory lot numbers?

Thanks for any help and for viewing.

[ghp95134]

Hello Gents,

My first post and my first Japanese helmet.
On the rear skirt is written in Kanji numerals the number 36?223. Would anyone know if the 3rd digit is a dividing stroke or the remains of another Kanji numeral?

Yes, it is a divider:

三六ノ二二三
36-223
san roku -no- ni ni san
ノ is read as の [no].

Tatoeba (for instance), when citing numbers like a telephone number, the possessive particle の (or katakana ノ) "no" is pronounced as a divider: 123-4567 would be said as "ichi ni san -no- yon go roku nana".


--Guy

[Heer 17]

Guy,
Thank you for your time and clarification. Would this number have been a 'unit' ID number?
Neil

[ghp95134]

Guy,
Thank you for your time and clarification. Would this number have been a 'unit' ID number?
Neil

Hi Neil,

No, not a unit number. However, it might indicate helmet #223 in position/location/etc. #36. But I'm just making a guess. Perhaps another reader has some accurate knowledge.

--Guy

[Jareth]

Nobody has figured out what hand painted numbers mean on interior dome of navy helmets. Lots of theories. As for your rim numbers that is equally still a mystery. Could be sailors personal number or as suggested a coded location/ position aboard ship

[Rod]

Yes, it is a divider:

三六ノ二二三
36-223
san roku -no- ni ni san
ノ is read as の [no].

Tatoeba (for instance), when citing numbers like a telephone number, the possessive particle の (or katakana ノ) "no" is pronounced as a divider: 123-4567 would be said as "ichi ni san -no- yon go roku nana".


--Guy

Hi Guy,

Being pre-1945, could it be read like this? 三二二ノ六三 ... 322ノ63

Rod

[ghp95134]

Hi Guy,

Being pre-1945, could it be read like this? 三二二ノ六三 ... 322ノ63

Rod

Hi Rod,

Yes that is also a possibility. That is not the case with arabic numbers, though -- so I was just defaulting to that direction.

--Guy

[Rod]

Thanks Guy!

I tend toward seeing war-time writing going from right to left if it isn't top to bottom.

Rod