Respirator Haversack Question?
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Respirator Haversack Question?
I've just received my first piece of gear for my BEF impression. It's a MkIV Respirator (stamped No4 III with reddish brown cloth covered facepiece and a buff filter dated 1937), with a MKV haversack stamped "V Maple 1938".
All this is good so far, but the haversack has the letters A.J.A. stencilled on the front of it, and the fixing rings for the whipcord and the carrying strap, as well as the fittings on the strap itself appear to be of steel rather than brass construction. The bag itself is in very good though slightly grimy condition.
Is this a problem?
Cheers
Jeff
All this is good so far, but the haversack has the letters A.J.A. stencilled on the front of it, and the fixing rings for the whipcord and the carrying strap, as well as the fittings on the strap itself appear to be of steel rather than brass construction. The bag itself is in very good though slightly grimy condition.
Is this a problem?
Cheers
Jeff
Bazooka_Joe- Posts : 30
Join date : 2014-03-02
Re: Respirator Haversack Question?
Hello Jeff - can you post some pictures of it? Was it an EBay purchase? If so, link through the reference.
There were many variations on the bags... Maple & Co are a well known maker... I can give you a pretty quick answer I reckon...
You could always wash then blanco the bag... They found the bags got very dirty and looked washed out when laundered so they were eventually told to start using blanco on them... Come 1941, they were also using hessian covers... To be honest, you'd be fine leaving it as it is (probably)...
Send some pictures through with some close up of the fittings...
An alternative is getting a repro bag to preserve your original MKV...
There were many variations on the bags... Maple & Co are a well known maker... I can give you a pretty quick answer I reckon...
You could always wash then blanco the bag... They found the bags got very dirty and looked washed out when laundered so they were eventually told to start using blanco on them... Come 1941, they were also using hessian covers... To be honest, you'd be fine leaving it as it is (probably)...
Send some pictures through with some close up of the fittings...
An alternative is getting a repro bag to preserve your original MKV...
TubbyBinns- Posts : 118
Join date : 2014-02-18
Location : Brighton, East Sussex, UK
Re: Respirator Haversack Question?
It was from Ebay actually, but the photos don't show the fittings too well. I'll take some photos and get them posted tomorrow.
Bazooka_Joe- Posts : 30
Join date : 2014-03-02
Re: Respirator Haversack Question?
Here are a couple of photos:
https://2img.net/r/ihimg/a/img534/4569/7oqh.jpg
https://2img.net/r/ihimg/a/img577/7655/ah60.jpg
https://2img.net/r/ihimg/a/img534/4569/7oqh.jpg
https://2img.net/r/ihimg/a/img577/7655/ah60.jpg
Bazooka_Joe- Posts : 30
Join date : 2014-03-02
Re: Respirator Haversack Question?
It's a pukka MKV and is perfectly fine. It must have just been built using economy parts instead of brass. Unusual at that time... 1938 dated, you say?
It may have just had a replacement strap... But MKVs are attached permanently at one end anyway... Are the D rings on the bag (for the whipcord) just tarnished brass or alloy? And what about the press studs?
Don't worry about the stencilling on the bag... That is the side that actually faces your body... so when it's on you won't see it...
All fine...
It may have just had a replacement strap... But MKVs are attached permanently at one end anyway... Are the D rings on the bag (for the whipcord) just tarnished brass or alloy? And what about the press studs?
Don't worry about the stencilling on the bag... That is the side that actually faces your body... so when it's on you won't see it...
All fine...
TubbyBinns- Posts : 118
Join date : 2014-02-18
Location : Brighton, East Sussex, UK
Re: Respirator Haversack Question?
PS - No need to blanco or wash it either...
TubbyBinns- Posts : 118
Join date : 2014-02-18
Location : Brighton, East Sussex, UK
Re: Respirator Haversack Question?
That's good news that I don't have to Blanco it!
I just checked with a magnet and they're definitely not steel, if they're blackened brass or some sort of alloy I don't know.
I just checked with a magnet and they're definitely not steel, if they're blackened brass or some sort of alloy I don't know.
Bazooka_Joe- Posts : 30
Join date : 2014-03-02
Re: Respirator Haversack Question?
They're zinc I think... Not an intentional rhyme. Not magnetic. And don't really rust like steel would.
TubbyBinns- Posts : 118
Join date : 2014-02-18
Location : Brighton, East Sussex, UK
Re: Respirator Haversack Question?
Sometimes I have found brass fittings on bags, so tarnished they appear steel, rotate the ring out of the web and try some wire wool on the hidden bit
Re: Respirator Haversack Question?
Admin wrote:Sometimes I have found brass fittings on bags, so tarnished they appear steel, rotate the ring out of the web and try some wire wool on the hidden bit
Bang on! That's exactly what it was. No sign of verdigris at all, just jet black, but definitely brass.
Bazooka_Joe- Posts : 30
Join date : 2014-03-02
Re: Respirator Haversack Question?
Resi bag fittings seem to go that uniform tarnish like no other brasswork on equipment does, I wonder if the bags had some sort of treatment that eventually affects the metalwork
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