Afrika Butterdose!!!

[landsknechte]

If this thing was intended as the WW2 equivalent of a silica gel pack, why then the lid to seal off the dessicant from the surroundings? An airtight container wouldn't do much good in that role. Also, why not some sort of a cheaper and easier to manufacture package?

[CWP]

I have enjoyed this thread and wanted to add these photos of a dish I picked up recently. It is the only speckled brown one I have seen and it is dated 1942. Without some kind of period documentation, we may never know who was issued these or what the exact purpose was. I believe they are just a variant type of dish.

[CWP]

Underside with Bakelite maker mark and 1942 date.

[CWP]

Inside. Orange seems to be the most common color for these types of butter dishes.

[CWP]

Closer shot of markings. The top and bottom halves have matchimg maker and date marks.

[CWP]

Date stamp inside lid.

[Tamás Sebestyén]

bakelit container

Hi Chris!
Although my own salt-or-whatever container is orange, I have seen and examined one last year in this brown color. That one was also from 1942.
I like yours very much, this is an ugly beast, I don't think anyone would keep food-related stuff in that brown container!
Regards
Tamás

[German_military]

Hello,
The brown containers seem to be marked with 1942 very often. Mine is also marked 1942.

(the yellow container in the photo is post-war)
I found that out after I took the photo a year or so ago.

[sturmann]

Salut,

Nice set !!

[whscharfschütze]

I got a black and orange one.

Best regards,

Karel

[whscharfschütze]

2

[whscharfschütze]

3

[grndevil44]

have a brown one also, same maker as Chris's and date 42.

Interesting ideas on these, one of the things we might not get to the bottom of,

Cheers

john

[Winkelman]

If this thing was intended as the WW2 equivalent of a silica gel pack, why then the lid to seal off the dessicant from the surroundings? An airtight container wouldn't do much good in that role. Also, why not some sort of a cheaper and easier to manufacture package?

TALC powder is not used like a silica gel pack , but should rather be SPRINKLED on the rubber parts of gasmasks when in storage ! Talc powder is also FOOTPOWDER ; many British footpowder containers were in fact relabeled and sold commercially after the war with pics of roses - for babies ! </p> I think it is IMHO safe to assume that the German containers with the " vent " were exactly that - footpowder dispensers , a very appropriate use for the DAK soldiers in the picture shown . SALT would most likely be distributed in ( paper ) packages anyway ; why the complete luxury of a restaurant-style saltshaker - not even the US army had those in combat .. </p> Footpowder however , is an ESSENTIAL . It makes you wonder why not more of this type are to be found . So maybe the " non-vent " types were meant for footpowder as well - since these are abundant . I have at one time found literally hundreds of these in black ( together with the " Seife " boxes ) and I've always wondered if the Germans were THAT preoccupied with supplying butter for their soldiers ? </p> But FOOTPOWDER , yes ..