Recalling Mojo's great photo's highlighting this bag, I began looking for a thread in this section that specifically dealt with them, but could not find one. Todd said that these were discovered in a warehouse in Pakistan, and what a great find it was. This thread is for all info. and updates about this offering, so post away. Mine says, "SA 1941"
Mojo's photos...
mojoturbo wrote:Echo the fast shipping and if anyone is still on the fence, let me show you what mine looks like:
I tell ya, I had never noticed that silver metal disc before, but it's there
Apparently, the specter of WWI was still looming in the minds of those who fought in the great war, knew of its effects, and were very concerned that this type of warfare could be brought to civilians.
This is a great place for posting bag, strap and buckle comparison photos.
Post 'em UP!
Last edited by Texan Scott on Mon Feb 03, 2014 9:10 am, edited 1 time in total.
I don't know the full history, but I didn't think MkVII were ever issued to US personnel nor produced in the US.
Taken from the IndyGear Main page.
The MkVII British Gas Mask Bag was issued to British troops and police forces during WWII as a precaution against a German gas attack (no, not from eating too much sauerkraut). Civilians were not issued MkVIIs, and instead had respirators in cardboard boxes around their necks or civilian duty respirators in drawstring haversacks. The MkVII Gas Mask Bag was a common site in the British Isles during the war, and you will see it often in pictures of “The Blitz.” There were many manufacturers of the MkVII, being produced in Great Britian, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and even India or the Union of South Africa.
I believe they were British issue. My mother and Aunt were in London at the time and I think my aunt and uncle had hers around when I was very young. Even though some were manufactured in Canada I have a different, smaller grey gas mask bag that my dad had and later used for his fishing gear
Ok, here was my original thought. Since the US had supplied much of the war materiel to the free world, under Lend Lease, etc., I had thought that maybe the US could have supplied bags and respirators, or at the very least, canvass and brass for the purpose of making these..? Maybe not, maybe they totally originated from GB? I had wanted to add just a tidbit of history before we launched into the more amusing side of the hobby, and posted original bags by the different makers and the various straps and buckles, etc. The fear of WWI trench warfare and being gassed, was apparently a huge factor in these being mass produced.
I just received my Mk VII, and apparently it is made by a different company than Mojo's.
Texan Scott wrote:Ok, here was my original thought. Since the US had supplied much of the war materiel to the free world, under Lend Lease, etc., I had thought that maybe the US could have supplied bags and respirators, or at the very least, canvass and brass for the purpose of making these..? Maybe not, maybe they totally originated from GB? I had wanted to add just a tidbit of history before we launched into the more amusing side of the hobby, and posted original bags by the different makers and the various straps and buckles, etc. The fear of WWI trench warfare and being gassed, was apparently a huge factor in these being mass produced.
I just received my Mk VII, and apparently it is made by a different company than Mojo's.
Pics to follow...
It's a reasonable thought and you may be partly correct. Since the Southern US was such a prolific producer of cotton it is probable that US origin cotton, and probably US made canvas were used in the bags manufactured in Canada.
I'm just not sure the "lend lease" program went so far as to apply to small ticket items like this, or that the actual bags were ever made in the US. I have always thought of it as applying to ships, vehicles, armaments and aircraft.
So I got one of these and I'm wondering how I should go about cleaning it. I've looked and looked (I know I saw some advice somewhere but I cant find it) There are a couple very small holes inside some brown/blackish stains. I was thinking of some detergent in the sink and trying to wash by hand but wanted to make sure with others. (will be used as a diaper bag until I have to get another one.
Spot cleaning followed by hand washing the bag are good first steps. These bags are old so some care needs to be given.
When I got an original bag years ago, it smelled a bit musty so didn't even think about it and threw it in the washer. Came out fine. Others have had mixed results, some leading to color fading, some bags have completely fallen apart in the washer.
Check the seams and stitching on your bag, if it appears solid, you can try the washer on gentle/delicate cycle if hand washing doesn't take care of it.
i recently purchased this bag from Todd's too. I've been pretty busy with a lot of other things and stepped out of the Indy loop for a while. So I am just now getting back into it and am looking at straps for the bag. I never paid attention to this part of the forum (the gear) because was only interested in the hat and whip sections. But now that I am here, I saw the post about the asbestos! That kinda has me freaked out! Think Todd's are contaminated??? My bag has a lot of loose dirt/dust on it. Was debating on washing it. Now I'm debating on just putting it away in a box in storage. Thoughts?
Sammy wrote: Was debating on washing it. Now I'm debating on just putting it away in a box in storage. Thoughts?
I wouldn't worry too much about it. I think the panic is overdone.
I'm sure asbestos can do damage but I'm equally certain that they used to include it in geology kits that people gave their kids (I had some. I thought the was it shredded into fibers was cool) and the tables in my high school chemistry lab were covered in it. (I also had a jar of mercury that I used to fool around with .)
If it bugs you and the bag seems sound, hand wash it and hang it to dry. If not it probably will never be an issue unless you plan to wear it on your head.
