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Canadian Military Collectors Forum

Comprehensive Forum of Canadian Armed Forces History & Militaria


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    WWII mess kits

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    Darktrooper
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    Post by Darktrooper Fri Oct 11, 2013 2:10 pm

    The WWII mess kit, I've been told that they were tinned steel, and later ones were aluminum.

    Are the Tinned steel mess kits, are they safe to eat from?
    mk1rceme
    mk1rceme
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    WWII mess kits Empty Re: WWII mess kits

    Post by mk1rceme Fri Oct 11, 2013 2:55 pm

    I wouldn't...they leech lead into the food.
    edstorey
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    WWII mess kits Empty Messtins

    Post by edstorey Fri Oct 11, 2013 3:00 pm

    The early ones were aluminium.
    LSR
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    Post by LSR Sat Oct 12, 2013 11:54 am

    The late( British) tins were also aluminum.
    The Canadians did not use steel.
    Don't use the steel tins because they contain lead.
    edstorey
    edstorey
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    WWII mess kits Empty Messtins

    Post by edstorey Sat Oct 12, 2013 12:12 pm

    Just to be specific for the Second World War.

    Canadian Messtins were only manufactured in aluminium. The Canadian military did employ British manufactured Messtins in Italy and Europe.

    British manufactured Messtins were manufactured in aluminium until 1941 when this was changed to tinned steel. Aluminium Messtins were re-introduced in 1944 as part of the Jungle equipment for fighting the Japanese.

    If you are doing a Canadian impression for Italy or NW Europe, then both Canadian aluminium or British steel Messtins are period appropriate, but NOT the late war British manufactured aluminium Messtins.

    As has already been stated, be careful if you wish to eat out of wartime messtins.

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    Darktrooper
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    Post by Darktrooper Sat Oct 12, 2013 8:19 pm

    Thank you guys!
     
    I was given a MLJ stamped wartime mess tin set still in cosmoline, and it was magnetic, so it wasn't aluminum. Ill keep my eye out for a aluminum one.
     
    My impression is a Canadian based RCA gunner at Cape Spear in Newfoundland, mid-late 1942.
     
    here's a picture
     
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    There's still a few things I need, like the Service Respirator, and other small things.

    The helmet I repainted, and copied the measurements of the tactical flash and added it to the left side only.
    Kelly's Heros
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    Post by Kelly's Heros Sun Dec 01, 2013 2:40 am

    I wouldn't recommend it after 70 some odd years regulations and metal technology has changed that stuff we where unaware about back then we are now more aware of it now at days.tank 

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