Uncommon GM-38 gas mask

[Uncle Goose]

Here's a special little mask I got just moments ago. It's a GM38 with old type exhale valve/ filter connector. It's made by Auer and has the correct BWZ code moulded into the mask. Very late production, probably done because there were problems in supply of the correct later valve/connector. It has been re-used after the war, probably by fire-fighters and all ink-stamps have been scrubbed. Nevertheless a very interesting piece and the first I have ever seen with this combination. Klarscheiben are dated 1945. Very few must have been made in this combo.

[MP44_tom]

Hi

Never saw a combination of these...... interesting

Unfortunately not known when produced, I suspect post war, but that doesn't distract.....

You can clearly see that this was not a "standard" production because of the fact that the size on the snout indicates a size "2" , while the mask itself is a size "3"

Tom
www.mp44.nl

[Uncle Goose]

I doubt it was constructed post war, after the war there was no reason any more to produce these masks, there was a surplus of them already lying around everywhere and Auer had it's own line of 700 serie gas masks that was aimed for industrial purposes.

The mask itself is a myriad of parts, mask itself has a 44 stamp and some inner pieces are 1941 dated, construction of the headbands and fixture shows post 1944 production but it's indeed hard to know when this masks was actually "born". For me it doesn't matter when it was assembled, it's a very rare piece, i haven't seen it anywhere in the 20 years I collect gas masks. Not IRL and not online.

But I believe it was made in war time because post war masks always have dates inside the rim besides other ink stamps, this one has none of those which indicates all stamps have been removed after the war, this would only be done if they were Waffen-amts. Just my thought on this.