Gas Mask Container

[lenny]

Hi there,

I don't really collect equipment, so thought someone might be able to advise on a recent pick up. Gas mask and container, mask dated 39, lenses 40, cannister marked ggm 42. "D" on base of can.

Does this grey colour look post war or ???????

there seems to be green, grey, tan and then light grey paint?

[Michael Kuligowski]

pictures dont show up - please post one picture in one post only

[junior]

Hi Lenny,

The "D" is the maker, I have an identical canister, it looks post-war grey to me, I have a canister that is also grey wich was re-issued by the Belgian Civil Guards after the war.
I hope this helps a bit,
Junior.

[Michael Kuligowski]

damn.. coudnt see pictures before..
anyway... - its a nice mask.. and nice canister... - pity it was overpainted - like Junior mentioned - after war....

[Patrick Dempsey]

Hi Lenny,

The "D" is the maker, I have an identical canister, it looks post-war grey to me, I have a canister that is also grey wich was re-issued by the Belgian Civil Guards after the war.
I hope this helps a bit,
Junior.

As an aside, i was always under the impression that the embossed "D" actually stood for "Wasserdicht" (watertight/proof). Can anyone else confirm this?

Patrick.

[Jan B]

ggm is the makercode.

Patrick is 100 % correct...from 42 on ( If I remember well ) these D's appeared on the bottom and stand for " Dicht - Wasserdicht".

You normally never find a WH issued D-marked canister dated earlier then 1942.

Cheers

Jan

[MP44_tom]

Patrick is 100 % correct...from 42 on ( If I remember well ) these D's appeared on the bottom and stand for " Dicht - Wasserdicht".

Jan

Correct, the D is Wasser Dicht and is on cans later then 42

Tom

[hcliffe]

Agree with the conclusion on the "D", means it is waterproof. I believe the grey is post war applied, looks like they got some on the short strap attached to the spring loaded clasp. Also from the little bit of the shoulder strap I can see, it appears to be post war. Post war straps are thicker and greener than wartime.

[junior]

Ah ok, thanks guys! I read on the forum in my first days somewhere that the D was a makermark. Thanks for the info about that D, all by all, we all are here to learn...

Junior.

[kmh]

Hi

Look for the maker inside the spare glass lid there you will find embossed or pouches a logo, a Makers name and the logo or a tree letter code and finally the year. Sometime is the layer of paint thick then try look from the inside. You already have the answer I figure out now. Anyway you always find the producer this way.

Regards
Kim

[Jean-Loup]

The D is as of 1941, not 1942; and I as far as I know, means reenforced, witch would be more logical than water proof, since most of the D cans you see arent waterproof....
JL

[Jan B]

Point taken about the date,JL...however the D stands for 'Dicht', and I'm sure that is related to being waterproof.

What do you mean with re-enforced then?

Cheers

Jan

[kmh]

If you take a look inside the lid you will see a rubber gasket or O. Ring that feature was introduced to make the canister watertigth. For telling the inventory people about the Mk. II design and for not get it mixed up! They stamp the D = Dicht / Tight. in the bottom.

So indeed the D is for watertigth! But naturally all functions of the canister must work for keeping the water or moisture out like the rubber gasket, the spring lock mec. etc. and the canister must be round without any "dings" as well.

In addition I have myself some Grey painted canisters exactly the same coulor, anyway I also suspect the paint job to be prewar.

Regards
Kim

[GJR137]

Hi all,
as far as I know, at the end of 1941 the bottom of the mask container and its side welding were reinforced in order to make the can as waterproof and airtight(when the rubber gasket inside the lid was fitted,and it wasn't always the case!) as possible; "D" stands for "Dicht" which is the German for "..tight";"Luftdicher"="Airtight", "Wasserdich"="Waterproof"aso.
Hope that helps
Kees

[Jean-Loup]

OK, I guess the D does stand for water proof then. I had read in French Militaria magazine that as of 1941, the cans were made in a more solid way, and they had a D on the bottom for reenforced. I guess the guy who wrote the article was wrong; or maybe its my memory that is wrong.
On the other hand, all cans with the D are defenetly not realy water proof. I think I have five of them, and none have the O ring inside.
JL