"Cavalry" cup and canteen question

[dimmuborgir95]

Richard, Thank you for your detailed and in-depth response, I read your text with great interest, as a "fascinating book".

I do not quite understand, what a cover is meant?

canteen cover (pattern 1945 w/shoulder strap)

[RT Ellis]

The referenced canteen cover that I call "canteen cover M1910 (pattern 1945)" for identification, is only known from examples that have been examined. No specific documentation has been found in research, and the pattern doesn't appear in any supply catalogs or equipment lists that I have researched.

The canteen cover is a modified canteen cover (dismounted) M1910, the double belt hook was eliminated and three web loops added at the sides and bottom, similar to canteen cover (mounted) M1917. An adjustable web shoulder strap 66 inches long x 5/8 inch wide, with standard two-bar buckle was assembled through the web loops. The canteen cover (p45) was manufactured by Collette Mfg. Co., Airtress Midland Corp., Decatur Tent & Awning Co., and Alltex Products, Inc. in 1945. This canteen cover was probably intended for use by assault troops in the invasion of Japan scheduled for November 1945, and never issued.

Attachment 74731Attachment 74730

Another modified canteen cover(dismounted) M1910 was manufactured specifically for use in escape, evasion and survival. The body was extended and a false bottom was intended to conceal the survival material in the event of capture. The theory apparently being that the captures would allow the soldier to retain the canteen and cover and not notice the extra length of the canteen cover. Examples of this canteen cover are marked "J.Q.M.D. \ 1944". This canteen cover was apparently an initiative of the Army Air Force for issue to flight crews. This same cover may also be found with the markings "J.Q.M.D. \ EX-45-1" which was apparently manufactured to accommodate a larger capacity one-piece canteen that was sent for trial in 1946.

The only documentation I have found was a status report of JQMD Project "R 161-44 - Cover, Canteen, M-1944" that was probably one of these modified canteen covers, but there is no description of the canteen cover or purpose. This information noted for future research.

[dimmuborgir95]

Richard many thanks for your reply, I was very interested to learn about these canteens!

[dimmuborgir95]

Richard, could you tell in what years in the "army" M1910 cover buttons have been replaced by LTD-fasteners?
I know, that these were the first -

Attachment 74777

next - "Rimless Eagle Snap" without a border around the edges;
"Rimmed Eagle Snap", with border;
and "Lift-the-Dot"

Maybe you can tell, in what years were the changes?

[RT Ellis]

The fasteners assembled to military equipment has become somewhat of a militaria collector hot topic partially because of the mania over “repop” or “fake” equipment. This reply will be limited to the use of fasteners assembled to canteen cover (dismounted) M1910.

Definition of terms:

Snap fastener - metal devise in two parts that provides a means to quickly join and separate component parts of material items. The “snap” is derived from the sound that is made as the parts are joined or separated. Two general types of separable fasteners were glove fasteners, and socket and stud fasteners.

Glove fastener - A type of separable fastener, that was generally used to assemble the necessarily open part of the glove at the wrist, and was easy to fasten and unfasten with gloved hands. Glove fasteners held together by friction, the “female” part of the fastener usually had a cluster of moveable clasps that held the “male” section securely until forced apart.

Socket and stud fastener - A type of fastener that is similar to a glove fastener, in which the socket was provided with wire clasps that engaged a grove in the stud, and held the separable parts by friction until forced to separate.

Curtain fastener or carriage curtain fastener - A type of fastener generally applied to the material curtain of carriages and early motor vehicles, that could be closed in inclement weather or opened in fair. The fastener was in two parts that consisted of a grommet and a stud that was provided with a lock or turn key that rotated to either secure the parts together, or allow the parts to separate. In military correspondence this fastener was referred to as the “turn button and grommet” fastener.

History of separable fasteners assembled to canteen carriers - Rock Island Arsenal in 1907 sent for field trial aluminum canteens that featured “covers” or carriers that could be removed from the canteens for cleaning purposes. Two closure systems were incorporated, one laced with cord, and the other with small glove type fasteners. (Glove fasteners were assembled to pocket cartridge belts starting in 1904.) The Infantry Equipment Board in 1910 recommended the canteen cover (dismounted) M1910 with curtain fasteners.

The Commanding Officer of Rock Island Arsenal in April 1911 received permission from the Chief of Ordnance to substitute the stud and socket fastener patented by Carr Fastener Company. The exterior of the stud was embossed with the uniform button design that was adopted with the Army Uniform regulation of 1902. The button featured the “National” emblem that consisted of an eagle holding an olive branch and arrows. (This design had also been applied to the earlier glove fasteners assembled to cartridge belts.) This fastener was referred to as a “Carr fastener” or “eagle cap” fastener in correspondence.

The Army uniform regulation of 1912 prescribed a revised button design that consisted of the National Emblem, with back ground of horizontal lines or grooves, and a raised or ridged edge. The design on the “eagle cap” was soon revised to reflect the change in the button design. The functioning of the “eagle cap” stud and socket fasteners was unsatisfactory and Rock Island Arsenal in 1915 sent small lots of canteen cover (dismounted) M1910 with three different fastener designs for field trial.

As the result of the report of field test the Commanding Officer Rock Island Arsenal in July 1916 received permission from the Chief of Ordnance to substitute the socket and stud “Carr Military Lift-The-Dot Fasteners” on canteen cover (dismounted) M1910.

[gsimmons]

Where/how in the lineage does the pictured(#44) carrier fit?

[dimmuborgir95]

Richard, thank you for an interesting explanation. I do not quite understand one point:

The Commanding Officer of Rock Island Arsenal in April 1911 received permission from the Chief of Ordnance to substitute the stud and socket fastener patented by Carr Fastener Company.

That is to say that since 1911, these buttons ("Rimless Eagle Snap" ) are installed first on this type of cover?( with a "square flaps")? Or is the only earliest version of the cover?

Attachment 74812

I'm not quite clear exactly when there was a "transition" to the next type of cover (it, too, with "Rimless Eagle Snap" buttons):

Attachment 74813

[RT Ellis]

The construction and materials used for canteen cover (dismounted) M1910 wasn't mentioned in any of the correspondence I have researched. Here is a list of the progression of the item as I understand it, mostly from examination of existing examples, a few photographic images, drawings and specifications:

1. OD duck material, rounded flaps, body made in front, back and bottom sections - seams on both sides, curtain fasteners, bronzed "half hard" wire double hook with metal tube, stitching on front quilted pattern and ended about 2 inches from bottom with horizontal stitching, unmarked. (this is believed to be the canteen carrier provided with the sheet steel tin-plated canteens and cups the Infantry Equipment Board sent for trial in 1909.)

2. Same as 1 except flaps squared off, interior flap ends reinforced with leather, stitching on front vertical rows ended 2 inches from bottom, stenciled U.S. (1910-1911.)

3. Same as 2 except body made of one piece seam on right side, Carr stud and socket "eagle cap" fasteners (socket marked "PAT.OCT.3-05 \ PAT.PEND." or unmarked. There is no record of this patent granted by the U.S. Patent Office), also made in darker shade of OD and softer duck material (1911-12.)

4. Same as 3 except flaps rounded, body seam at center back, web material added to flap edges, interior flap ends reinforced with duck material - leather eliminated, olive green duck material, stitching entire front of body. (Illustrated in photograph included in the Cavalry Equipment Board report April 1912.)

5. Same as 4 except double belt hook changed to thicker brass wire (metal tube eliminated), billet of heavier web material, printed U.S. or "without "U.S." (for state militias to mark state identification). (circa 1912-16)

6. Same as 5 except “Carr Military Lift-The-Dot Fasteners” socket and stud fasteners. (July 1916)

7. Same as 6 except body made slightly larger, olive drab duck material. (1917-18, 1940-42)

8. Same as 7 except body seam at right side, minor variations in color of duck material. (1941-43)

9. Same as 8 except variations in material and construction manufactured in U.K. and Australia (1943-45)

10. Same as 8 except section of web material assembled over double belt hook billet, olive green duck material (1944-46, 1951-52, 1956-57, 1962-64)

Comments:

Olive green (OG) was adopted as the standard color for web equipment in 1907, but because of problems obtaining suitable dyes olive drab (OD) continued in use until 1909 when OG materials became available. There is no explanation in documents why the material used for canteen covers continued to be OD when all the other components of the infantry equipment M1910 was manufactured with OG materials. It may have just been a matter of using up materials on hand. The dyes used for OG materials came from Germany and was no longer available after the U.S. declaration of war in April 1917, and the materials used in the manufacture of web equipment reverted to OD.

In the period circa 1890-1926 Mills Woven Cartridge Belt Co. marketed woven web field equipment, most of which was identical to the items manufactured by Rock Island Arsenal, and in some cases equipment designed by Mills, especially woven web versions of leather equipment. Mills worked closely with the Ordnance Department to develop woven equipment, and received contracts for equipment but apparently never made canteen covers on contract. Mills found new markets for woven web field equipment in Europe and the U.K. based Mills Equipment Co. was associated with Mills Woven Cartridge Belt Co. Most MWCB Co. items were marked with "MILLS" inside a cartridge logo.

A steel double belt hook was occasionally substituted for brass.

Post WWII several foreign military organizations were reequipped with U.S. equipment, and produced close copies of canteen cover (dismounted) M1910 (pattern 1944). U.S. vendors had copies of canteen cover (dismounted) M1910 manufactured, with generally inferior materials, mostly in Asian countries for sales to campers. The reenactor market has created a demand for fairly accurate replica equipment that in some cases is very close to the originals in construction and material, and in some cases marked with phony manufacturer names and year. An incredible number of these replica canteen covers have been manufactured and marketed mostly through websites and online auctions. There is apparently at least 16 different vendors of replica canteen covers.

[dimmuborgir95]

Richard, I am very grateful to you for your amazing knowledge that you generously share with us. I did not know that this cover had many varieties. I have a picture of the "first cover"( with rounded flaps and curtain fasteners), and up to that point it was not clear what this model. Now I know, thanks!

this is believed to be the canteen carrier provided with the sheet steel tin-plated canteens and cups the Infantry Equipment Board sent for trial in 1909

Perhaps this picture shows exactly this interesting canteen?

Attachment 74835

Richard, if possible, could you tell about the appearance and field trials "early" M1910 canteens? How correct is this information, placed on most forums?

...In 1909, the army supply department of the United States introduced a new set of field equipment, which included a "quart" canteen, complete with cup and cover fabric. As a result, preliminary field test steel tinned ( Rock Island arsenal production) and aluminum (AGM company production ) canteens samples on arms was adopted aluminum canteen manufactured by AGM.

As the technology of production of aluminum canteens with "seamless" housing has been patented and demanded royalties for the use of a patent , in 1912 in Rock Island arsenal has developed its own, more simple technology, on which the canteen housing welded from two halves. Also, screw cap, and provides greater incision was changed.

It would be very interesting to learn about the changes, taking place with the "screw caps" of this canteen (they have been changed in some years).

Attachment 74836

1) Early AGM production
2) Early R.I.A. production
3) R.I.A., since 1912
4) R.I.A., since 1914

This is correct?

[RT Ellis]

This image is one of a set that was taken during the Infantry Equipment Board test in 1909 by a battalion of the 10th U.S. Infantry, of what would become the Infantry Equipment M1910. The canteen and canteen cup in this image were examples of the sheet steel tin-plated items manufactured by RIA for the field test. Apparently the Quartermaster Corps got in on this field test to try out wool wrap puttees, because other images of the test equipment show the soldiers wearing them. (BTW the image posted here was apparently lifted from an online auction where the seller is trying to profit from the sale of digital prints of images that are public domain and available online for down loading.)

Perhaps this picture shows exactly this interesting canteen?

Attachment 74835

The cap in the first image was manufactured by Aluminum Goods Manufacturing Co. and assembled to all production 1910-1913. The second image is the canteen cap manufactured by RIA, and was milled from solid aluminum rod. The third image illustrates the canteen cap manufactured by RIA in 1913-14, pressed from sheet aluminum, that reduced the cost of manufacture. The fourth image was the cap standardized in 1914, although I've not come across any information why the cap was domed.

Attachment 74836

In general this information is correct but also has some misinformation in it. The General Staff of the U.S. Army ordered a board of infantry officers to assemble at RIA that was tasked with improving the field equipment of dismounted soldiers. The Infantry Equipment Board, which was sort of a semi-permanent board that was ordered to meet when required, examined equipment then in use, the developments in equipment, and several sets of equipment that had been requested from foreign countries. The nested canteen and cup was not original to the Board, and the Ordnance Department had been testing aluminum field equipment since 1894. The Board designed the canteen and cup and requested that RIA obtain examples for field test from Aluminum Co. of America. Apparently ACA could not produce the canteens and cups requested, and RIA manufactured the canteens and cups from sheet steel tin-plated. The report of the test was favorable to the design and the Board recommended the aluminum canteen and canteen cup as a component of the Infantry Equipment M1910.

The Infantry Equipment Board's recommendations for the infantry equipment was approved in 1910, and RIA was ordered by the Chief of Ordnance to manufacture 25,000 sets. Aluminum Company of America was contracted to manufacture the canteen M1910, and canteen cup M1910 (these items were usually manufactured as a set). ACA failed to deliver on the contract, and Aluminum Goods Manufacturing Co. was contracted to manufacture the sets. AGM Co. had developed "seamless aluminum vessels" which was manufactured by a well known process referred to as "spinning." The manufacture of the canteen required skilled workers and was a slow laborious process, and therefore expensive. Delivery of the canteens and cups by AGM Co. was delayed until late 1910, which of course held up completion of the sets of Infantry Equipment M1910. AGM Co. eventually delivered about 1/4 million canteen and canteen cup sets 1910-13.

The Army desired that the Ordnance Department obtain the necessary knowledge, equipment, and workers to manufacture the canteen M1910, at Rock Island Arsenal, to reduce the cost of manufacture and improve speed of production. RIA made some preliminary attempts at "spinning" aluminum, but didn't have the necessary equipment, and found the process difficult and laborious. (No mention was made of any issues with patents or payment of royalties) At the same time RIA collected information on welding aluminum and by late 1911 had developed satisfactory technique and worker skills to manufacture aluminum canteens from sheet aluminum. By 1913 RIA was reporting that the canteen and cup sets was about half the cost of the sets contracted from Aluminum Goods Manufacturing Co. Rock Island Arsenal continued to manufacture the canteen and cup sets until 1917 when it was necessary to contract industry to manufacture much of the equipment in the quantities required by the American Expeditionary Force.