Invalids gas mask

[JerryBB]

Looking like something from Dr. Who, the special gas mask designed for invalids and others with particular needs sush as asthmatics.
They don't seem to have been common as pictures of them are scarce.

[Hawthorn]

Jerry,

An interesting find, what time period were these masks issued please?

Regards Simon.

[JerryBB]

Originally Posted by Hawthorn

Jerry,

An interesting find, what time period were these masks issued please?

Regards Simon.

Simon, early WWII IMO, the breathing tube is and the filter element are both dated 1939.

I say that, but I have no real knowledge of these only assumptions based on what I have been able to find out so far.

[ARPCDHG]

Yes, 'helmet respirators' are rare. Only 50,000 were made - compared to 97 million civilian respirators.

Funnily enough, the drawstring on my example is also missing.

They were issued flat-packed in 6" thick cardboard boxes. One description for their use is for those with 'head deformities'.

I believe they did not appear immediately at the start of the war and most of the examples seen today are either mid or late war dated. (The filter is the same as that on a baby's respirator, so was made earlier and added to this later design).

[Hawthorn]

Thank you both for your answers, I presume that the photograph shown of them in wear is posed purely for the camera, the thought of having to continually operate the hand pump and go about your duties at the same time would be nearly impossible and they would have been used by a third person to render assistance to someone with facial injuries or deformities as mentioned in a similar manner to the baby respirator.

Simon.

[JerryBB]

Originally Posted by ARPCDHG

Yes, 'helmet respirators' are rare. Only 50,000 were made - compared to 97 million civilian respirators.

Funnily enough, the drawstring on my example is also missing.

They were issued flat-packed in 2" thick cardboard boxes. One description for their use is for those with 'head deformities'.

I believe they did not appear immediately at the start of the war and most of the examples seen today are either mid or late war dated. (The filter is the same as that on a baby's respirator, so was made earlier and added to this later design).

Thanks for the extra info and the cloth part has a unclear date of 1941 on it.

[Hawthorn]

No connection to the Seller, here is one on Ebay at the moment for a very hefty price! (imho)

Simon

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WW2-INVAL...cAAOSwvBpbOC~C

[JerryBB]

Originally Posted by Hawthorn

No connection to the Seller, here is one on Ebay at the moment for a very hefty price! (imho)

Simon

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WW2-INVAL...cAAOSwvBpbOC~C

And did not sell for that price..

[RAD]

there is one in the Home Front gas mask collection at the Thorpe Camp museum , Woodhall Spa ..

[Hawthorn]

RAD,

Thanks for the images.

Simon.