#CHILDRENS WW2 GAS MASK BOX CRACKED#
#CHILDRENS WW2 GAS MASK BOX SERIES#

Once the baby has been placed inside and the waist-strap tightened, they are fully secured by the tail-plate. The bottom of the secondary frame curve inwards to create the basis for the tail-plate.Ĭloseup of screws holding the tail-plate to the secondary frame Secondly, because the legs raise the respirator upwards, it makes it easier for a carer to place the infant inside. Firstly, the legs stop the respirator from rolling around when placed on the floor. When unclipped, these legs fold outwards. The secondary frame also holds 2 foldable 'legs'. The fabric tie itself is stitched to the rubberised fabric of the 'bag' section of the respirator and to the waist-tie of the respirator, to create a secure attachment. This fabric ties around the secondary frame to secure the secondary frame to the primary frame. In addition, a fabric tie is located down the bottom. These screws are found in the back and run down the 'spine' of the respirator. The secondary frame is attached to the primary frame via 2 screws. The secondary metal frame is made to reinforce the back and provide the base for the tail-plate. The primary metal frame holds the visor assembly and the filter. Secondary metal plate removed, note the fabric tie on the leftĪlongside the metal visor assembly rods and the skullcap, the entire backing and underneath of the mask is constructed of metal. The edging of the skullcap was attached via adhesive.

The skullcap was affixed to the rest of the metal frame by 1 large central screw. In relation to the visor assembly, the twine used to secure both rubber sheets together was threaded around the skullcaps rim. Its construction was a metal oval with a metal cross at the top. To stop the respirator being too baggy and to prevent injury if the baby was dropped, a metal skullcap was introduced to the respirator design. The rim of the metal skullcap was sandwiched between the 2 rubber sheets - this allowed the twine to be threaded around the skullcap which added more structural security. Top of respirator, one can see the twine has been threaded in and out of the skullcaps rimĭuring assembly, once the rubber sheets had been placed (but not secured via twine), the skullcap was fixed into place. For added security, a layer of stitching is found around the perimeter.

#CHILDRENS WW2 GAS MASK BOX SERIES#

Once the visor was placed inside, a series of rivets were employed to secure the visor to both rubber sheets. These holes were reinforced by metal grommets. These sheets were affixed together by punching holes through them and then using a single piece of thick twine that threaded through each hole (3 on bottom, 2 at sides and 2 at top) and the respirators metal frame. One of the sheets was placed behind the metal rods and the other was placed in front (to cover the metal rods).

These serve as the plane by which the visor is secured to the respirator. These metal rods were attached to the respirators' overall metal frame.įirstly, 2 sheets of oval-shaped black rubber were created. The whole visor assembly was attached to metal rods that formed the oval shape for the visor assembly to latch to. The overall construction of the visor assembly quite material intensive. Horizontal view of visor assembly, one can see the metal rods that form the visors frame, note the rubber is split after the first piece of twine Visor closeup, one can see the grommets that reinforce the twine that secures both rubber discs together and the rivets holding the visor Additionally, the visor was probably made large so the carer of the baby could see exactly what was going on inside and ensure the safety of the infant. Glass was most likely considered too expensive (these C3 respirators cost £1.4s, roughly 8 times more than a Standard respirator). The babies vision was supplied by a large capsule-shaped visor, which was probably made of cellulose.

#CHILDRENS WW2 GAS MASK BOX CRACKED#

It is important for collectors to note that this 'bag' is often found in a dried condition, where the rubber surface has cracked and dried into a semi-hardened state. This bag enveloped the child's entire body to protect them from poisonous gases. The crux of the C3 respirator stems from a rubberised fabric 'bag' which contains the infant. A large, alien-looking contraption, this respirator could be aptly described as a sack attached to a metal frame.

Childrens ww2 gas mask box