Meat Can Confusion

[RT Ellis]

Meat can M1932 was adopted to replace the meat can M1910, and meat can M1918, and classified STANDARD in 1932. There is an interesting story behind the development and adoption of the meat can M1932 that starts with the report of a medical officer in 1926. Because of the quantities of meat cans contracted during the Great War no procurement of meat can M1932 occurred until 1941-42. The meat can M1932 pan and double compartment plate were made of aluminum, and the handle that was similar to the handle on the previous meat cans, featured a hole in the handle so that the assembled pan, plate, utensils, and cup could be hung up to dry after washing.

In 1941 the priority of aluminum stopped further procurement of aluminum field, and garrison mess equipment. The Army in 1942 first tried to produce a porcelain plated meat can that was unsatisfactory because the porcelain "crazed" when heated. The meat can M1942 was then manufactured of tin or zinc (galvanized) plated steel, and adopted classified SUBSTITUTE STANDARD for meat can M1932. Early examples of meat can M1942 had the same steel handle as meat can M1932, but the handle was soon changed to the pressed sheet steel handle that remained standard on all the meat cans manufactured thereafter. Meat can M1942 was manufactured in large quantities by several contractors in 1942-43.

In November 1942 the War Production Board released aluminum and corrosion resisting (stainless) steel for the production of field mess equipment. The meat can M1932 was put back into production with the pressed sheet steel handle with the nomenclature Meat Can M1942 Style1. The nomenclature in 1944 was changed to Meat Can Aluminum. Meat can M1932, meat can M1942 style 1, and meat can aluminum were all stocked under the same quartermaster stock number. So you could requisition a meat can aluminum and be issued a meat can M1932, meat can M1942 style 1, or meat can aluminum.

The principal difference between meat can M1932 and meat can M1942 is the pan and plate of the M1932 was aluminum, and the pan and plate of M1942 was sheet steel tin or zinc plated. There were differences in the hinges and handles as well.