Some good finds this week

[Sean Dunnage]

So I was wandering around New York and Ontario this week and came across the following bits 'n pieces.
I'm new to collecting so I'm not positive about my I.Ds so if anyone can help me out it is appreciated if I've got them wrong. Also if anyone can date the stuff for me even better.

Sean

I found this in an Ontario bargain store. I believe it's a Canadian Gas Mask Carrier 1943. Mint condition for $10.00



Same store in Ontario an M1 US Helmet Pot with fixed bales. Stamped 723A, well used and abused for $25.00




In Jamestown NY I found this US Civil Defence helmet for $20.00. Missing most of the decal, but the liner is in excellent condition and has some history with the label inside added.



Frome the same store in NY. I believe this is either a US Marine Garrison Cap dated May 9th, 1941 by Rite Style Model Cap Co. or a US Civillian Forestry Corps cap. I'm now leaning towards Forestry Corps. It's made from wool and is a Forest Green colour. $4.00



Lastly a US Engineers Garrison Cap found in the same store. No label except for what you see in the photo. Has a small moth hole. $4.00



I'm looking forward to next week....

[Sean Dunnage]

One sad story from my trips this week is finding a M1 US Helmet with an early westinghouse liner in the Ontario store that a kid was buying just before I got to check it out. I learned this listening to the clerk who had researched it a bit. The lid was $70.00 and in amazing condition. I overheard the young lad saying he was going to strip it down, paint it and use it for paint ball.... I nearly cried right there. When I told him that he had a piece of history in his hands and should leave it be he simply said who cares about that shit.

Sad world when some youth just doesn't care about the past.

Sean

[Lang]

Sean,

Interesting photo of that gas mask carrier. I would not have believed it possible to see a more disgraceful standard of workmanship than a lot of Australian WW2 webbing equipment but looks like the Canadians take the cake.

The quality of not only the American workmanship but practically every other non British Commonwealth country of this period puts us to shame.

Lang

[peter simundson]

That bag is british made. That's not a C broad arrow on the lid.

Made before the invasion for Light respirator.

Ir was a togh time for the factories and they had to us what they had.

Although I admit it wouldn't win a beauty contest.

Peter S

[rob love]

Maybe it's two tone camouflage. I have to admit it's one of the worst made examples I have seen.

[Ed Storey]

This style and manufacture of this bag has always been somewhat of a mystery as a number of years ago they were quite common with all having the US style 'Lift the Dot' fastener and brass 'keeps' on the sides to hold the carrying strap. Have a look at the inside of the brass snaps, I believe they are stamped United Carr Australia. The cut of this type of bag is very different from the types used in Europe and may have been manufactured for the war against Japan.

When it comes to workmanship, Indian made WWII equipment is generally considered to be the worst of the Commonwealth nations. For the most part, the quality of Allied manufactured equipment is quite good and unlike some of the items manufactured today, was made to last.