Mk 2 Carrier water can

[Tony Smith]

How late were the 2 Gal cans manufactured for the military?

I have a few W^D 20lt jerry cans from the early 50's, and had thought that these superseded the 2 Gal types.

But on Ebay UK at the moment is a 1955 dated 2 Gal can (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/VINTAGE-...YAAOSw8b1gSKcV)

Were they made much later than the mid-50's?

Meanwhile, yet another listing on Ebay shows and ad for an Australian Oil Company from 1949 promoting surplus British 20lt cans filled with engine oil.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Ampol-Mo...QAAOSwQwZaVsqe

So by 1949, the British Army was already disposing of surplus 20lt Jerries, but was still making 2 Gal cans in 1955.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

How late were the 2 Gal cans manufactured for the military?


But on Ebay UK at the moment is a 1955 dated 2 Gal can (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/VINTAGE-...YAAOSw8b1gSKcV)

Were they made much later than the mid-50's?


So by 1949, the British Army was already disposing of surplus 20lt Jerries, but was still making 2 Gal cans in 1955.

Tony,
That can on Ebay is actually a WD Water can as it does not have the 'petroleum' script embossed on it. I have a new unissued one dated 1950's era painted in gloss Deep Bronze Green with WATER stenciled on the side. There were still vehicles in service at that time, that had stowage for 2 gallon cans but not for jerricans.

As for the Ampol jerrican, over here in UK a friend recently bought an old jerrican with Shell logo and oil grade on it, so they were obviously utilised after the war when there was a shortage of steel.
regards, Richard

[Robert Bergeron]

Thanks Dusan , Tony & Richard , amazing information . Keep it coming !

[Ron Pier]

I think what Dusonn has is not a "Flimsy" I have one and they are much heavier with a screw cap. Mine is dated 1940 and it has been suggested that they are a food container? (Soup-Stew etc)

My 1942 "Flimsy" is just that! Very flimsy by comparison with a pull off cap (like a ring pull) Ron

[Robert Bergeron]

Nice Ron . I see MT 80 . Motor Transport 80 Weight motor oil i suggest . It is punched on the side away from the opening to let air in when emptying . A flimsy is a one time use container . As for carrying soup / food in a 4 gallon tin can and with such a small opening ..... don’t know. But that model of can is reusable compared to a flimsy. MODERATOR : Please change the title of my thread to :Allied POL & Water containers . Thanks .

[Ron Pier]

Hi Robert. I've never heard of Flimsy's being used for oil. 80 was the octane rating (pool petrol). You can actually see 80 on a couple of the cans in this stack. Ron

[Grant Bowker]

I agree with the 80 being more likely octane than oil viscosity.

Consider that many cars now use 0 weight oil for fuel economy and ease of cold starting. In the WW2 period 30 weight was fairly common. I've never owned a vehicle tha called for anything heavier than 20W50 (motorcycle and 1976 VW and the VW only called for 20W50 for sustained very hot weather driving, mabe a holdover from the aircooled Beetle?) Oils in the 75 and above viscosity range are more often gear oil for transmission or axle use.
In that period, 50 octane gas was still in use, 70 considered regular, 80 a great improvement 100 for high powered aircraft engines and I don't think 130 and 145 aero fuels came along until post war. To further confuse things, fuels were often dual rated (eg. 80/87 or 100/130 for lean and rich mixtures - more commonly seen when dealing with aircraft where the pilot can directly control the mixture).

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Ron Pier

Hi Robert. I've never heard of Flimsy's being used for oil. 80 was the octane rating (pool petrol). You can actually see 80 on a couple of the cans in this stack. Ron

I've seen lots of Women MT Drivers in Wartime pics before, even a smattering of Pilots.
I think this is the first pic I've ever seen of female Motorcyclists.

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

Tony,
As for the Ampol jerrican, over here in UK a friend recently bought an old jerrican with Shell logo and oil grade on it, so they were obviously utilised after the war when there was a shortage of steel.
regards, Richard

The Motor Oil inside a can lined for Water must be a great preservative for the can. Here's a surviving 76 year old W^D/Ampol looking great:

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/seac...944/1267356453

Looks just like the original ad!

[rupert condick]

hi what a useful bit of info,
from my understanding,
colours were White water, Green Oil, Black Petrol,

RAF, using pipe colours here, Water Blue,oil yellow, Petrol red,

But as sated earlier variations.
I have these which I have repainted as found. dated DD 1942
with lettering.

i also came across these used in the ME, and Italy.
appear to be a 2 gallon jerry can construction.
Camel cans were the sought after containers for water in the M.E.
But I have not seen any pictures of them actually being used,
by the Army, only these 2 gallon Jerry can type.

This is said to be a British Water can
Just no info on it.
regs
rupert

[Robert Bergeron]

Nice , never seen these before . Thank you for posting Rupert.

[Matthew P]

I am in contact with the company in India and am ordering a sample of ten cans in white marked WATER on each long side. As I am mostly focused on British not Canadian the cans I've ordered have the flat top typical of the British cans, rather than the raised lip top of the GSW made cans. In a few months when I have them in hand I'll report and provide photos.

Matt