"New" WWI German leather gas mask

poniatowski

poniatowski

Well-known member
This one has been at a local antique store for a while now. On Friday, I took a look at it and decided to get it. I have the fabric / rubber type, but this one was so supple and in good shape, so....
The can is missing its straps and spare lenses, but I have a complete one in the collection, so that doesn't matter to me. After bringing this home, I looked up prices on ebay and the can is going for more than I paid for the set, so I feel pretty good.
Smelly little bugger though!

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I hope y'all like it! :D

Ron
 
Nice, They are smelly, most of these had papercloth straps, and they were very brittle with age. The spare lenses were required on these gas masks because they did not have the extra fold that the cloth masks had, with the cloth mask, it was possible to wipe the moisture off the inside of the lens by poking your finger into the corner by the lens and pushing the finger in behind the lense and wiping the back of the lens. The leather mask did not allow this, so they devised a gelatin coated replacement inner lens. This coating absorbs moisture from the breath, and will stay transperent for an extended period of time. The British and American masks used a wax pencil to coat the inside of the lens to limit that condensation.
Best
Gus
 
Not in my experiance, this is a very durable type of leather, I have only see a couple that showed signs of damage, and they both seemed to be from very poor storage, I have one that has been hanging on a mannequin for the past 15 years, and there is not sign of drying out, but do not put this on a foam head to display, or you will find it stuck the the foam, I use a polyvinyl film to cover the foam heads I display these on, or paint them with laytex or acrilic paint.
Best
Gus
 
Thanks Gus!

yeah, I never, ever, ever, never (is that enough?) use styrofoam (although the film or paint does work). My thought was to put a light weight form inside of the mask to make it 'stand up' so people can see the cool lenses, then display it next to the can.
I've seen these on mannequins with a Stahlhelm as well and that looks very cool. However, the only 'head' I have is too large so I think I'll go with the form.

Thanks again!

:D Ron
 
Hey Ron,
I have used a nylon stocking stuffed with cotton batting to display a mask, this is supported with a wooden post extending up from the shoulders of the mannequin.
Best
Gus
 
Gustaf said:
Hey Ron,
I have used a nylon stocking stuffed with cotton batting to display a mask, this is supported with a wooden post extending up from the shoulders of the mannequin.
Best
Gus
Click to expand...

I think I could rig something like that up... thanks again!

:D Ron
 
I agree with Gus. These leather masks tend to survive in good to excellent condition as long as they're not abused. The same often holds true with the white leather liner pads found in many M17/18 helmets. These were made of the same chrome tanned sheepskin as the Lederschutzmaske.

Very nice mask and canister Ron.

Hans
 
Thanks all.

I'll post pix once I get a display for it rigged up. Probably with one of my M16 shells laying around.

:D Ron
 
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