Guest Posted 21 December , 2016 Share Posted 21 December , 2016 (edited) (So far no one on the WarRelics forum has been able to help me. If anyone has any help at all or can point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it!!) Hi everyone, I got this a while ago from an antique store in Ypres and I'm unsure of it's date or model. I'd love some help! It looks like some variation of the ARS line of masks and I assume it is french made based on the 'france' stamped buckle. But it looks somewhat different to the usual ARS - 17 in terms of the colour of the materials but it also seems to match it and it does not look like the later 30's era ARS masks. The markings on the filter were difficult to photograph, I don't want to take the filter off it is on quite tight. Its covered in 'TO', is this a makers mark? It also looks to have seen some use in some way, and both the mask and cannister are labelled with the presumed owners name. Edited 22 December , 2016 by Guest Need help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMB1943 Posted 22 December , 2016 Share Posted 22 December , 2016 If you search eBay for 'British WWI militaria' you will find a photo that shows 4 men, wearing British/French/German/US gas masks. The man at extreme RHS wears a mask very similar to yours. Although photo is undated, you may be able to date yours approximately by comparison to the others. Regards, JMB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 23 December , 2016 Share Posted 23 December , 2016 I think I found the photo your talking about, if it is then the man at the far right is wearing a German 'Gummy' mask. So the issue remains Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiegeGunner Posted 23 December , 2016 Share Posted 23 December , 2016 'Gummi' is German for 'rubber'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MURAT Posted 23 December , 2016 Share Posted 23 December , 2016 I'm not a specialist of gaz mask but it's probably a French ARS 17 (Appareil Respiratoire Spécial modèle 1917)with minor (post war ?) variations like the "straps" TO is for "taille ordinaire" or medium size, PT is for "petite taille "(small size) and GT for "grande taille"(big size). The ARS 17 was in servce during and after the war in french and belgian army. Regards Gérald Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MURAT Posted 23 December , 2016 Share Posted 23 December , 2016 The cannister is a post war one ... Gérald Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eparges Posted 23 December , 2016 Share Posted 23 December , 2016 As Murat supposed correctly, a french ARS gasmask, but of postwar, mid 1920's production: container with swivels, mask with 'spring' straps (as opposed to elastic fabric ones for WW1) etc etc. regards, RS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 24 December , 2016 Share Posted 24 December , 2016 Isn't there a difference on post war cans re the ribs / corrugated section not being the entire length of can too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mva Posted 24 December , 2016 Share Posted 24 December , 2016 do you know this : http://www.guerredesgaz.fr/ and : http://www.guerredesgaz.fr/Protection/Lesmasques/France.htm on this page : http://www.guerredesgaz.fr/index.htm you find an e-mail address also on facebook : https://www.facebook.com/GuerredesGaz/?fref=ts kind regards from the Somme, martine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 25 February , 2018 Share Posted 25 February , 2018 (edited) Based on the information here - does this look like a late war ARS mask? I just got it (it is in essentially relic condition but fills a hole in my collection) Compared to the original mask shown here (re Eparges comments) The canister/tin does not have swivels for the strap, but flat metal loops The instructions inside the lid are a slightly different format There appears to be horizon blue paint under the ochre/khaki colour The mask itself has elastic/fabric straps It is very very stiff and I suspect will simply crumble if I attempt to open it more. (Any suggestions regarding storage/preservation?) Opinions as to the date of this example please? Apart from the stenciled AG99 on the filter and the impressed EW on the base of the can I cannot find much in the way of markings Thanks in advance, Chris Edited 25 February , 2018 by 4thGordons typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 25 February , 2018 Share Posted 25 February , 2018 I think your tin is post war also Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 25 February , 2018 Share Posted 25 February , 2018 23 minutes ago, trenchtrotter said: I think your tin is post war also I wondered - the sites linked above by MVA appear to show a version made from May-June 1918 on which looks like mine (see pic midway down) if so it would seem to be mid1918-1920? Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchtrotter Posted 26 February , 2018 Share Posted 26 February , 2018 18 hours ago, 4thGordons said: I wondered - the sites linked above by MVA appear to show a version made from May-June 1918 on which looks like mine (see pic midway down) if so it would seem to be mid1918-1920? Chris Chris we never stop learning. Yes you appear to have a late war canister. I always thought the 3/4 corrugated ones were post war but there you go. I have a first pattern one and a third pattern one which I bought in error but cheaply. Wonder how many of your pattern were actually issued in war? Thanks for posting. Interesting. TT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 2 September , 2019 Share Posted 2 September , 2019 The mask is an M18 ARS or ARS18. The can is the late war variant with swivel bails rather than the welded. Both were used in the last 8 months of the war alongside the M2. The first pattern ARS can was much too weak and was routinely bent / crushed out of shape with use. They initially added an additional horizontal support in the center of the can. This proved to be unsatisfactory. The final wartime variant of the can had the large horizontal reenforcing band at the mouth of the can and swivel bales that were riveted in place rather than tac welded. Most post war cans are dated on the bottom along with the manufacturers initials. The other changes post war were fairly minor like the number of times holding the eye rings in place was increased. Other than that and a few minor filter changes the mask remained the same and in use along other masks such as the TC-38 through the beginning of the Second World War. I hope this helps! Scott Frogsacks.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 3 September , 2019 Share Posted 3 September , 2019 Scott Could you confirm to which mask you are referring - the original post, or mine, or both? Thanks Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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