Princess Royal Fortress Military Museum > Records

Second World War Child’s Gas Mask Box purchased by Private Raymond Henry NEWBEY W71097

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Apaco

1943

Overview

Rectangular brown cardboard box with one (1) end opened and the other secured with original packing tape. One long edge is secured with a glued canvas strip. The front and back are both printed with the manufacturer’s details and content description black ink.

Historical information

A Second World War civilian gas mask for children issued cardboard box. It came with a canvas carrying bag which had a shoulder strap sewn to the sides. Compact gas masks were issued by the government and fell under the responsibility of Air Raid Wardens. Young infants had a special need and a specially designed infant’s respirator suit was shipped out for them from the United States.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-12-2018.9.2

Themes

War and Conflict > World War 2

Material

Canvas

Cardboard

Ink

Width

132 mm

Height or length

299 mm

Depth

100 mm

Weight

120 g

Inscriptions and markings

On front in black ink “Apaco / THE FIRST NAME IN PACKAGING / ATLANTA PAPER COMPANY / ATLANTA, G.A. / CERTIFICATE / OF BOX / MAKER / THIS BOX CONFORMS TO ALL / CONSTRUCTION REQUIRE- / MENTS OF CONSOLIDATED / FREIGHT CLASSIFICATION / BURSTING / TEST 200 LBS. PER / SQ. INCH / SIZE / LIMIT 75 INCHES / GROSS / WT. LT. 65 LBS.” with “THIS BOX CONTAINS ONE / NONCOMBATANT GAS MASK MA2-1-1 / SIZE / CHILD / The purpose of this mask is to purify, under / open air conditions, air containing irritants and / poisonous gases and smokes used as Chemical / Warfare agents. / Do not use against amonia, carbon mon- / oxide, illumination gas, mine gases, when / fighting fires in closed places, in mine rescue / work , in fumigation work, in semiclosed or / closed places (tanks etc.) containing volatile / liquids in places where large quantities of gas / or vapor have been released so as to build up / concentrations of one or more per cent by vo- / lume in air, in any place where the oxygen con- / tent is so low that safety lamp will not burn. / The head harness on the facepiece should be / adjusted only tight enough to insure a gas-tight / fit. The fit should be tested by holding the hand / firmly over the inlet in the bottom of the can- / ister and inhaling. If leakage occurs around / the edges of the facepiece, the harness should / be adjusted or a larger or smaller mask should / be tries on. Fitting should be done with the aid / of an experienced person. / Store the mask carefully in a cool, dry place. / Handle the mask, especially the eyepieces, / with care at all times so that protection will be / furnished when needed. / THE B.F.GOODRICH CO. WEIGHT 1.8’B. / FEB 1943 LOT NO. A7-3” on back in black ink.

Contextual information

Was purchased by Private Raymond Henry NEWBEY W71097 6th Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) in Gnowangerup for his son by Kenneth Raymond NEWBEY.

Keywords

Second World War

Gas Mask Part [breathing Section]

Gnowangerup

Place made

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Year

1943

Primary significance criteria

Scientific or research significance

Social or spiritual significance

Comparative significance criteria