SBR Gas Mask- Filter Cannister Colors

[oskar2ndchev]

I found this on "The Trench Line" in regard to the colors on the filter cannisters for US-issue SBR gas mask. Makes for some interesting reading.

Chemical Warfare in World War 1: The American Experience 1917-1918, by Major Charles Heller which is available online at:

www-cgsc.army.mil/carl/resources/csi/Heller/HELLER.asp

From the paper --

When finally issued, each mask came with a small log book tied to the canvas case. Soldiers received instructions to record the length of time they wore the mask, both for drill and in combat. They were also required to identify each type of gas encountered. The purpose of this log was to ensure that the filter in the canister was replaced at the proper intervaL Filters for an SBR had a life of fifty to 100 hours of exposure, depending on the chemical agents. As might be expected, the log system did not work. As one gas officer remarked, "any man who in the hell of battle can keep such a record completely should be at once awarded a Distinguished Service Medal." Gas officers in some divisions came up with an alternative: they painted the number of the month of issue on the case. If and when filters became available, the officers replaced them based on their own estimate of exposure time. There were three types of AEF filter canisters. Those painted black were for training only and offered no protection against smoke or gas. Canisters colored yellow protected against smoke, offered greater gas protection, and had a high resistance to breathing. The green canister offered protection against smoke, had "sufficient" gas protection, and had a low resistance to breathing.5

The footnote -- 5. Amos A. Fries, -Gas in Defense-, in -Gas in Attack- and -Gas in Defense- (Fort Leavenworth,KS: The General Service Schools Press, n.d.), 17-18, reprinted from the National Service Magazine, June-July 1919; "Report ... Defense Division," 12.

[rsm2ndbtnlf]

Gentlemen... in reference to the colour of the canisters for the SBR.

From various researched material over the past week, I can confirm the same canister colour distinctions for the British SBR. I would like to make a suggestion in reference to this 'self-colouring scheme', should the individual wish to employ this form of period authenticity.

Many of the items we use within our reenacting period, are highly collectable in their original form. Some reproductions are now gaining the same popularity due to the cost of period originals. It is quite possible that, if the individual paints his SBR canister as period.. upon the individual making a decision to leave reenacting and sell on his items (should that ever happen!), the SBR could be further passed on by someone not so honest... thus describing the item as 'Period Original. Therefore, may I request that the present owner, if re-painting to period original standards / specifications.. either stamp / scratch / engrave or paint on the canister an easily identifiable marking denoting his item as a bonafide reproduction.. not a period oriiginal?

Thank you Gentlemen.

Seph

[oskar2ndchev]

I seriously doubt if anyone is going to mistake a reproduction for the real thing (the repros are nowhere as nasty) and if they do, then they need to be better educated. Also, the reproduction cannisters are completely empty, devoid of the filter element and that's going to be another tip-off. Given the current prices for originals, it would be a lot of work for a fake-out artist to install something in the cannister to simulate a filter.

Just my two cents...

[rsm2ndbtnlf]

Fair enough.. it was only a suggestion.

Seph

[oskar2ndchev]

No problem- On other boards I've heard the whining and complaining from the uber collectors crying about how all the reproductions being produced are ruining the market for militaria because of the potential for fakes. They then demand that the vendors somehow mark their products "reproduction" or words to that effect. Personally, I think this is garbage and I like reproductions with original markings but I don't want "REPRODUCTION" stamped on it. It's not the job of the vendor to protect collectors.

Besides, given the rarety of some of the original items, anyone who's half-informed should know better and if they don't, they shouldn't be collecting.

But hey, that's just me.

[rsm2ndbtnlf]

I've come across that very attitude, and the markings they want to see are stamped into the item in full view. I was suggesting somewhere out of sight and unobtrusive.. but obvious when examined.

FYI... there are some near perfect reproductions of various militaria (medals, edged weapons, cap badges, firearms, some uniform and equipment items) that even experts of long standing have trouble verifying. It's those items which the dedicated collectors are worried about.

Seph

[Radford]

Dear Adam and List-

"It's not the job of the vendor to protect collectors."

No, it's not, but it is the job of the vendor to correctly identify his product. I favor the vendor doing unique product identification in period style. At The Front or Schipperfabrik are good examples of this. ATF marks their US canvas "Kirkman MFG." or "Crawford Tent and Awning" in perfect period style with various dates. Those are family names and cannot be confused with original manufacturers by knowledgeable collectors. Schipperfabrik marks their excellent reproductions with "Schipperfabrik" in period style. Again, even 90 years from now these should not be taken as original.

I saw some new What Price Glory items at OFMD. The leatherwork is fantastic! The holsters and frogs are top quality reproductions, and they are marked "W.P.G" (various dates). This is ideal; it looks perfect but leaves no confusion that these are reproductions. I also saw some US web gear marked with a "Mills" bullet logo and prewar dates. To duplicate actual period maker logos without also marking it as a repro is, for my taste, not correctly identifying your product.

However, this isn't really the point of what Seph was saying. I agree with him. Let's say for example that a reenactor has an original SBR with an original black painted canister, and he decides that he would paint the original canister yellow or green to represent an actual service canister. This isn't a matter of a vendor creating a new reproduction, this is an original piece that is reenactor modified. In that case, he should mark it so that a future collector can know what was done.