Mk 2 Carrier water can

[Robert Bergeron]

Thanks for your input Radek, very gracious of you.

My computer screen does not give full credit to your picture colours Radek but that looks like Olive green/ drab .

That's a new one on me again.

So we have white, grey, black and Olive Drab for Canadian GSW water cans .

Anyone else ?

[Stewart Loy]

Robert,

I have them dated 1940 and 41 also.

Most of mine have the bails to hold the cap - where do those bits go to?


Stewart

[Lynn Eades]

Photo Stewart? What do you mean by "bails"?

[Stewart Loy]

I thought that they were called 'bails'.

The thingermagigger that holds the cap to the can - so it is there when you are done pouring the gas out. The cotter pin holds the chain to the can, and the flip up 'bail' allows the cap to rotate. A small washer passes thru the bail and is captivated by another cotter pin.

I have attached a snap of the 2 in the basement.


Stewart

[Ed Storey]

White and Grey were the only two colours used for water cans, there was no Olive Drab. The reason is that these two distinctive colours were used so that the can would not get mixed up with petrol.

[Lauren Child]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

White and Grey were the only two colours used for water cans, there was no Olive Drab. The reason is that these two distinctive colours were used so that the can would not get mixed up with petrol.

I'm sure I've got a green 2gal water can somewhere. I had wondered how it had got through the war without being painted though.

I've seen pictures of jerry cans where only the handle or cross was painted white.

Edit: yup here's the can in an old photo.

[Ed Storey]

2 Gallon Cans and Jerry Cans are two different items with different marking schemes, can designs and colours. This thread is about the 2 Gallon Cans.