My small WW1 canteen collection

[Stahlhelm]

I wanted to share my canteen collection which consists of mostly German Feldflaschen and 2 French mle 1877 bidons.

The German bottles are either the versions with the M15 or M17 harness straps with the exception of one medic Labelflasche, which I believe is a 1915 model. The canteen covers range from typical wartime quality cloth to corduroy, papercloth and even one made of leather. Both of the canteens with the papercloth covers are enamelled as opposed to tin plated and have 1918 dated components.

I'd love to see other examples. Please post yours.
Hans

 

[Stahlhelm]

French canteens; 1 litre and 2 litre versions with tin plated cups.

 

[Stahlhelm]

German Trinkbecher; 1914 aluminum and 1915 (Bing) tin plated steel drinking cups.

 

[Stahlhelm]

This canteen is one of the "last-ditch" versions produced. Due to shortages of pretty much everything by late in the war, papercloth has now been used as a substitute for both cloth and the leather straps. Metal press studs have been replaced with a black tie cord. The steel bottle is coated in a blue enamel. Both the cover and the bottle are maker marked (same maker) and dated 1918. I believe the very last version is the rarely found glass bottle variant which has the same cover as this one.

 

[Stahlhelm]

This is the oddest WW1 German canteen in my collection. The bottle is a tin plated steel M1915 and the straps are also the M15 configuration. I've not seen another leather covered WW1 period German canteen, although I know that various German States used leather covers in the 19th century. I don't know whether this falls into the Ersatz category or if this is a holdover from the 19th century that was used by a handful of makers.

 

[Gustaf]

Hans,
You are an evil man, it will be difficult to top your beginning, but in the next few weeks, I will add the few waterbottles in my meagre collection.
I must say, I am envious, I have never seen a leather covered German waterbottle before, that is very nice.
Gus

 

[J.LeBrasseur]

I do not collect these, but very cool, thanks for sharing!

 

[Adler]

I think those Feldflaschen are great Hans! I only have two pictures of my Feldflaschen together with some other stuff (made the pics a while ago)... If you see something you need details from, just let me know...

Adler

 

[Stahlhelm]

Hans,
You are an evil man
Gus

That would finally explain my baby pictures.

 

[Stahlhelm]

Adler, beautiful display. I would like to know more about the canteen with what looks like cloth straps. I've never seen one like it. Detail shots of the other canteens would certainly be welcome. Are any dated 1915?

Hans

 

[Gustaf]

HeyHans,
I managed to get most of my water bottles together to take a few photos, I do not have anything is as nice condition as yours or Adler's', but I do have a few.
First are my German Feldflaschen

an aluminum Flasch with the cup attached to an early war breadbag

a steel Feldflasch with the steel cup attached to a later bread bag

On the right is a M1907 Feldflasch with out a cover, and on the left is an unidentifyed bottle with a cup attached, it looks to be German construction, and I have found similar ones in the German Alfa catalogue, but this is still unknown.

a selection of Austrian Feldflaschem, the first on the left is the standard war time production, dated 1916 with matching nesting cup, in the center right is the pre-war aluminum waterbottle, dated 914 (1914) and on the right is a steel wartime model with leather carrying strap common to the mounted soldiers, this one belonged to the grand father oaf a friend, and he was with the Tirolean Mounted Kaisresschützen. All these were 1/2 liter capacity.

My two French Biddon, the early 1 liter modle and the 1877 2 liter modle, French soldiers would often carry two of the two liter canteens, I think the French were the only ones who realized that soldiers needed water to do their job.

since Hans got off topic and posted the French Biddons, I thought I would add a few more, here is a stink common US canteen, cup and cover. The only thing of note here is that the cover is marked to the 110 infantry, company A. The was the unit my grandfather served with, and I had a bit of trouble being able to afford a marked bit of equipment, as many 101st Airborn collectors think this fits in their collection.

on the left is a Portuguese water bottle with the Mills carrier, on the right is a Belgian water bottle

on the left is a Russian water bottle, dated 1910, the center is unidentifyed, it follows the construction pattern of the Russian wodden water bottle, but the Italians alsoproduced a wooden water bottle like this, the standard Italian wooden water bottle is made from staves rather than a solit bit of wood. On the right is the Italian M1917 water bottle.
I should have a few additions in the future.
Best wishes
Gsu

 

[Stahlhelm]

Impressive and educational as always Gus. I think that's the first time I've seen a Russian canteen.

The German looking canteen with the cup attached to the bottom looks very much like something I once saw in one of my books. I believe they were being worn by pre-war Bavarian artillerymen. I'll try to dig up the picture and will post it if it turns out to be the same model.

I have yet to get my hands on an early model German canteen with wool cover or an enamelled cup.

Very nice stuff. I look forward to seeing more.
Hans

 

[Gustaf]

Hey Hans, until I saw your leather covered water bottle, I thought the papercloth covered ones were the most interesting, Jeff at AGM had a very nice glass bottle with paper cloth cover at SOS, but the price was beyond my reach.
Gus

 

[Gustaf]

I have been searching for this cartoon for three days, it is from Albian Wallgren's book Wally, his cartoons of the AEF.

I thought it was appropriate for this thread.
Bes twises
Gus

 

[Gustaf]

I just recieved an Italian wooden water bottle from a seller in France, It is missing the small stopper, and is a bit worm eatten, but I did not plan on putting water in it. This one leads me to believe that the other wodden on eI have is Italian also, as it has the same shape, but is larger.

I think one could collect water bottles and canteens with out running out of variations, but they are just a side line for me.
Best wishes
Gus

 

[Adler]

Ok Hans, let's start with the one with the straps... It's marked ED Sommerfeld 1915 on the canteen . No markings visible on the straps...

 

[Stahlhelm]

I'm glad to see so many varieties of canteens being posted. Gustaf, the Italian ones must be fairly rare. I can't remember ever seeing one for sale, not at local shows anyway.

Karel, the webbing harness on your canteen is something I'm sure I haven't seen or read about before. Do you have more information on it?

Hans

 

[Gustaf]

Hey Hans,
The wooded Italian water bottles are about as common as the tined ones, none are very common in the Americas. The Russian Wooden water bottles are the rarest, and I think mine is actually Italian rather than Russian, so in my collections room, the Italian water bottles are the 2nd most common right after the American canteen.
I also managed to find my one example of the French Quart, it was in the bread bag, it is now hanging n the 2 liter bidon.
Karel,
I too like the cloth straps on your water bottle, but I suspect that it was intended to be used with a cloth cover on the water bottle as it has the button hole in both straps for the stud found in the bottom of the cloth cover.
Gus

 

[Adler]

Sorry Hans, I have never seen an other one with these straps and have no further info about it... but it seems the straps have been on that canteen for ever...
Gus, it's true what you mention about the button hole, but there has never been a button in there. Also the canteen has a lot of paint damage, so I suppose it has always been without the cloth cover...
Concerning the canteen with the leather cover, I think this cover is possibly custom made and maybe done after WWI... This also might explain the aluminum button, instead of an iron one... But hey that's just a possibility...

Adler

 

[frontschwein]

hello everyone.

i also have a question. i have got two canteens. i bought the second one thinking its a german canteen. maybe it is. but im not sure. i once found a bit of information wich explained it to be a prewar saxon version. but it also looks like a belgian canteen to me. its marked: r114. the green steel canteen is marked: L. L. Runberg 1916.

regards, Michiel from the netherlands.