Gas Mask Stretchers - Why so rare?

[Colorado]

I have only come across one in my collecting time, and I grabbed it! I have a post-war marked one and have seen them around. We see 10's of thousands of masks, why so few stretchers?

[Colorado]

Close-up

[MP44_tom]

I didn't know they are so rare, I see them on ebay quite regularly, price range aprox. 10 - 15 euro. But only bothered to pick up one....

Tom
www.mp44.nl

[hcliffe]

Probably 'cause nobody wants them Jeff. Sorry, had to tease you.

[Colorado]

Hi Harry - Funny!

Tom - I doubt they are WW2 issue the ones on eBay. Post-war are very common, I have a couple. If you can find them for 10-15 Euros, let me know. I could be wrong.

[Colorado]

Post-war stretcher. Tough to tell the difference.

[MP44_tom]

The one I picked up




Stamped H and 38

The corner with stamps is a little corroded, but the ones I've seen are stamped in this way. IMHO these are war issue.

I will see if I come across some more

Tom
www.mp44.nl

[Colorado]

Great Tom 1938 dated like mine! I may have been looking in the wrong place. I wonder what year they quit making them?

[Michael Kuligowski]

Jeff !!!
thats a good thread.. and good question..
all I can say.. is that during my years of going thru Polish flea markets I could aquire 100's of gasmasks... but I didnt see even one stretcher

I guess these were produced in limited numbers and propably until the war has started - all stretchers I saw are 193_ marked.. my example is a 1936

[Colorado]

Thanks Mike, looks like you have the same maker as mine. I bet you don't see any dated after 1939.

I think they are uncommon and keep a check on eBay, and have not noticed any popping up.

[andundiek]

Here a picture of mine,

I almost forgot I had it, placed it in a gasmask.

Don´t see them around much indeed, I assume there was little use for these while in the field...

[Wesley's Dad]

Stretchers...Rare??

These items were for barracks use and not field use. They were never married with the mask and can in the field. The mask was either in the can with out the stretcher or in the locker on the stretcher. Also, the use of said item is not obvious to folks not in the know, Allied vets had no use or reason to take them.

[MP44_tom]

Correct, these were barrack items


Here's what I mean btw, this auction ended today for 30 euro (mask + spanner)

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

Tom
www.mp44.nl

[Colorado]

That's $40 to us, not too cheap! Funny the buyer is one of the big FAKE sellers on USA eBay.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Thanks for posting these, as I cannot ever recall seeing one before? Never too old to learn something new

The only trouble is....






I now HAVE to buy one!

Cheers, Ade.