My first gas mask/canister

[roger9344]

I picked this up kind of at the last minute at the SOS in Louisville KY (USA) today. I've been wanting one for some time, and there it was, calling out my name!
The straps are all there, and hopefully are original. The canister is marked 42ebb, and the filter is marked 1940. Some rust on the outside of the can, but it is solid. The spare lenses are missing, but at the price I can't complain. The rubber on the mask is nice and supple. I suppose one could use this, if you didn't mind breathing through an 82 year old filter.

[Thanatos]

"if you didn't mind breathing through an 82 year old filter."
that may contain asbestos.

[roger9344]

No kidding! Definitely not on my to-do list. I got enough exposure to asbestos on board ship back in the early '70's.

[Eric Zentner]

Very clean Roger you can get the spare lenses easy, you can find orig in paper for a fair price on Ebay.
And these look great on a foam head with a Lid!

Eric

[roger9344]

Thanks, Eric. I know I have seen them available, so wasn't too concerned that they weren't in there. I intend to put it on a head, and put a helmet on top of it, if it displays like that OK.

[Thanatos]

No kidding! Definitely not on my to-do list. I got enough exposure to asbestos on board ship back in the early '70's.

To true Roger.
Treat most pre 1980's military/civil emergency mask filters as containing Asbestos and not wear them.It was widely used by most nations.
A very nice set in top condition.
Well done mate.

[Glenn66]

An 82 year old filter? Is it 2022 already?

Nice find Roger!

[roger9344]

OOoops. How about 72 years. My mind was on sensory overload yesterday evening after spending a day of browsing hundreds of tables loaded with military.

[JPhilip]

Hello,
Sorry to say, the canister, Gasmask itself and filter are german WWII, but carrying straps on the canister are not. They're german but postwar, used on Bundeswehr canisters. The web is different and the straps are slighlty thicker. Sorry again for this bad news.
Thanks

[roger9344]

Thank you for that bit of information. That is too typical, I think, to have postwar straps on these things. Still and yet, it makes a nice display, and the average observer will not know these things. I, however, will know, and appreciate you letting me know. If I'm ever fortunate enough to find one with the original straps perhaps I will be able to tell the difference as well.