German Gasmask M1916 Vs. 1917

[RON]

Gents, can anyone tell me if the German M1916 'Gummimask' Gasmask came in a canister any different from that of the M1917?

Here's an M1916 Gasmask:

For comparison, here's my M1917 Gasmask & the M1917 Canister it came in (missing its straps):

If the M1916 Canister was indeed different from its successor, could you post photos to highlight it?

 

[Gustaf]

Yes, the Gummimaske can did not have the bail closure and was a bit shorter, it also did not have the compartment for the gelatin lenses as you could wipe the moisture off the lenses of the Gumi by folding the corners in with your finger. I will see if I have some photos. or you could check out Hans'post on gas masks.
Best
Gus

 

[Gustaf]

There are some great photos of the Gummimaske can on this thread.
http://www.pickelhaubes.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=3111&hilit=gummimaske" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Best
Gus

 

[RON]

Thanks Gus and great thread... hadn't seen it before. :thumb up:

 

[Gustaf]

Hey Ron, if you are interested in masks, you might check out several of Stahlhelm's posts, he has some outstanding examples.
Best
Gsu

 

[Stahlhelm]

Hi Ron,

Very nice masks. Gus nicely covered the basic differences between the model 1916 and GM17 model canisters. The Gummimaske you have posted here is particularly interesting because it's a well preserved early 1915 model (aka Bandmaske). There are variations between the very early and later M1916 canisters for the Gummimasken, and these seem to have evolved (improved) quite quickly within that year. One thing to remember is that, generally, the very first masks came with sail cloth carrier bags which initially held 3 cans - one for the mask only and two small cans for the main and spare filters. This was obviously a bad idea and was quickly changed to one can for the mask/filter plus one second smaller spare filter can.

Your mask originally came with an early model can of some sort, likely either one of the two shown on the left below in the pictures. The one on the left is in my opinion the earliest version of the model 1916 canister. Both of these early cans came with 1915 model Gummimasken, while the other two on the right came with model 1916 Gummimasken or Rahmenmasken. I'll have more pictures including some other examples later this week to clarify on or two things if you're interested.

Hans

 

[RON]

Hello Hans! Thanks for jumping on this one.

Unfortunately, the Gummimaske I posted isn't mine. I found the photo a while ago on the net and kept it for reference. But to tell you the truth, I compared the photo with yours and still can't see that Rahmen (frame) difference whereby the rim of your Gummimaske was reinfoced with a cloth strip as you explained...

As for the Gummimaske I'm currently considering, it is described as a "1916 pattern canvas mask (M16 Type 3 Rahmenmaske), with the rubberized side to the interior". It comes however with a 1917 canister and I was wondering if they also upgraded the latter before the masks?
In other words, if the M16 canisters were first supplied with M15 gasmasks (before the uplifted M16 gasmasks were produced) as you say, isn't it possible that the M17 canisters were first supplied with M16 gasmasks? :-k

 

[Gustaf]

Hey Ron,
The M1917 can was not intended to be supplied with the Gummimaske, as the Gummi did not use the gelatine moisture absorbing lenses, and the compartment for those lenses was not needed fr the Gummi.
Best
Gus

 

[KnuckleDuster1]

Searching high and low for a M15 gummimaske. Where on earth can I find one of these? As for WWI, I currently own a couple SBR U.S. masks, an Italian Polivalente, a French M2, and a M17 Ledermaske. An M15 is one of the last ones I would like to add, scratch that, love to add.