Help ID hand painted number on gas mask cannister

[Land O Aches]

Comrades:

I noticed a hand painted number on this gas mask cannister:



https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-i...o/DSCN0111.JPG

Is this a unit number? An individual soldier? Or something else?

I look forward to your comments

Lando

[CWP]

These were unique numbers assigned by a gas protection NCO in each unit, who was in charge of keeping track of a unit's gas protection equipment. It cannot be traced to any particular soldier or unit, it has no special meaning.

[Land O Aches]

Thanks! I won't feel bad about sandblasting it now...

[duv]

do not sandblast it, clean it with oxalic acid, there is still a lot of original paint on it. and you will lost it only for re enacting???? or to put on motorcycle ?????

[CWP]

I can't imagine why someone would sandblast an untouched collectible antique with original paint like this. There are plenty of repainted or even reproduction cans out there. I guess I should have told you the number was the key to a holy grail of the Third Reich.