1903-1908 experimental cups

[Brit-Tex]

Here are some cups from my collection and some of what I have learned (please correct me if not accurate). The two granite-ware cups are commonly described as "1903 Experimental Cup". The army was looking for a more compact design than the current tall 1874 pattern tin cup that could fit in the haversack rather than dangle from it. The then popular granite-ware proved to be unsuitable for the army. I suspect the tin plated version came along a couple of years later after they found the granite-ware to be poisonous with acidic foods like tomatoes. The aluminum cup dated 1908 was probably the last trial or experimental cup before the adoption of the M1910 canteen and cup.

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[tgd31968]

Here are some cups from my collection and some of what I have learned (please correct me if not accurate). The two granite-ware cups are commonly described as "1903 Experimental Cup". The army was looking for a more compact design than the current tall 1874 pattern tin cup that could fit in the haversack rather than dangle from it. The then popular granite-ware proved to be unsuitable for the army. I suspect the tin plated version came along a couple of years later after they found the granite-ware to be poisonous with acidic foods like tomatoes. The aluminum cup dated 1908 was probably the last trial or experimental cup before the adoption of the M1910 canteen and cup.

I have one of the aluminum cups marked ria 1910 i think, although i would have to check the date. I didnt know it was an experimental cup or anything about its history. interesting.

TD

[RT Ellis]

By the 1890s aluminum had become a material of interest for field mess equipment by European armies and the Prussian and French armies issued aluminum equipment. There was interest in the material by the U.S. Army, and the occasional experimental and field trials of aluminum equipment from 1894 to 1905 the material was reported unsuitable for general issue.

The first aluminum cups sent for trial were identical in construction to the seamless tin cup that had been adopted in 1900 and was currently manufactured at Rock Island Arsenal. At the request of the Chief Ordnance Officer at the Manila Ordnance Depot in 1901 1000 aluminum cups were prepared by Rock Island Arsenal and sent to the Philippines for field trial. A serviceable aluminum cup similar to the seamless tin cup, was adopted in 1906 for general issue, and was also acquired by the U.S. Navy.

Rock Island Arsenal in 1907 manufactured 300 aluminum canteens for field trial. The cavalry officers that reported on the aluminum canteens also commented on the unserviceability of the web canteen strap, and that the cup could not be carried in the manner specified in regulations (with the strap threaded through the handle of the cup). As a consequence changes were made to the equipment intended for mounted use.

One of the changes was the cup was made shallower so that it could be carried in the saddle bags. The aluminum material cup adopted was the Model of 1908 that was listed in Ordnance Memoranda No. 1719 as "Cup, Model of 1908, Experimental." (As a consequence collectors that have seen O.M.No.1719 believe the cup experimental.) This cup was manufactured by Rock Island Arsenal in large quantities from 1908 to 1910. The Cup, M1908 was apparently not a popular item with cavalry soldiers and they were often photographed in use by militia troops. The story of the cavalry issue of the canteen cup M1910 begins with the Cavalry Board Report of 1912. By 1914 cavalry troops equipped with McClellan horse equipment were authorized the canteen M1910, canteen cup M1910, and canteen cover (dismounted) M1910. This cup was also acquired by the U.S. Navy.

As to the tin and porcelain plated cups that were similar in general dimensions to the aluminum cup M1908, there is a photographic illustration in a Quartermaster manual that appears to be similar cup that was part of a leather working tool set that was apparently intended for use to hold water as there is a sponge next to the cup.

The documentary and photographic evidence clearly demonstrate that these cups were purchased by the Ordnance department along with tin plated meat cans, plates, and utensils starting in the summer of 1917 for use by the recruits in camp, until sufficient supplies of M1910 equipment could be manufactured. The manufacture of meat can M1910 was short of requirements and additional similar "off the shelf" mess equipment was acquire by purchase orders in 1918. This equipment was classified obsolete in 1919 and sold through public auction.

Comment: There is general belief by militaria collectors that the tin and porcelain cups were acquired and issued during the emergency of 1898. There is documentation of Quartermaster officers authorized to local purchase mess equipment from dry goods and hardware stores, however, this was strictly "off the shelf" equipment intended for camp and garrison use until the manufacture of standard items caught up with demand.

[Brit-Tex]

Thank you!

[jsmosby]

And I thought I was the only one interested in military cups! Very interesting. I actively collected Civil War for many years. i like a well rounded collection, thus, personal items to include tin cups. I soon found out how difficult originals are to find and expensive. I don't think many were kept and if so, used until they wore out. I've been lucky a few times wandering around antique malls and shops finding a great example at a very low price actually not to far from Gettysburg. I've never had such luck at a show, however, period or earlier copper cups can be had at good prices on occasion.

[RT Ellis]

In any grouping of material culture items, especially uniforms and equipment brought home from military service, what is usually present are either items that had no civilian application or held in such high regard that they were stored for posterity. Of uniform items shoes and boots were often worn until unserviceable, and useful equipment was often continued in use. Of equipment items probably the most useful in civilian life was the cups.

There were in general two types of cups: those acquired by the Quartermaster Department and used in mess facilities, and those used in field service. Cups for field service were not an item of general issue until 1875. Prior to the Infantry Equipment Board in 1875 recommendation that the cup be an issue item for field service, soldiers provided their cups. During the American Civil War some militia units were issued cups by the states. These cups were not to any published specification or pattern, and were most likely local purchase from a manufacturer within the state. Records indicate that tin cups were authorized for licensed sutlers to stock tin cups and sell them to soldiers. The most popular cup was of sheet steel tin-plated about 4 inches in diameter and 4-5 inches high. A similar cup was acquired by the Quartermaster Department as part of the unit cooking outfit.

After the draft was initiated the regulations indicated that soldier's recruited (inducted) were to be provided with tin cups. How this was to be done is not recorded but apparently the recruiting office was able to draw uniforms and equipment from local depots, and were funded to purchase equipment that was not available at the depots. There is one record that the Quartermaster Department contracted for tin cups: Philadelphia Depot contracted with Charles Burnham for 90,000 Tin cups @90.00 per thousand, November 25, 1864 to be completed December 22, 1864. These cups were apparently intended to be provided to inducted men in compliance with the regulations.

Everything the Army purchased or manufactured until late in the 19th Century was made to a sample pattern that the manufacturer was expected to follow in all respects of material and construction. These cups were probably similar to the cups previously described, and made to a pattern cup, either at Philadelphia Depot, or provided by the manufacturer and approved by the Assistant Quartermaster at Philadelphia. During the Civil War it was occasionally the case that the Quartermaster Department to approve for manufacture a sample submitted by the contractor. As a consequence there was no written specification that described the dimensions, material or detail of construction.

The block type sheet steel tin-plated cup recommended for adoption for field service by the Infantry Equipment Board in 1875 was based on a sample manufactured by the Leavenworth Arsenal at the Board's request. The cup was illustrated in "Ordnance Memoranda No. 19" 1875, and production commenced at both Watervliet Arsenal, and Rock Island Arsenal in the spring of 1875. First mention of issue to troops was found in correspondence dated September 1875.

This cup was first acquired by the U.S. Marine Corps in 1901, from the Army Ordnance Department. The Marines also acquired the “seamless” tin cup that was adopted in 1900 and continued to use both of these tin cups until replaced by the infantry equipment Model of 1910.

During the War with Spain the Ordnance Department contracted for tin cups that were similar in dimension and material, but slightly dissimilar in construction. As an emergency and temporary measure the Quartermaster officers supplying the troops at the camps at which the federalized units were gathered, were authorized to local purchase mess equipment that included cups.

Cups similar to those popular with soldiers during the Civil War, of many different dimensions, materials and construction were available to the civilian trade, and without provenance are difficult to directly associate as to use of a soldier in the field. Provenance is a tricky subject as family tradition as to use by a relative is often speculative. As the current saying goes “Buy the item, not the story.” To complicate the matter for collectors is the situation that during the Great War (previously described) the Ordnance Department acquired non-standard cups by contract, and by local purchase. To additionally complicate the situation the various states also acquired equipment, similar to the standard patterns, that I’m sure were as much as possible manufactured by a business within the state.

Manufacturers and commercial firms produced all manner of sheet steel tin-plated wares for commercial sales, including cups of various styles, long before and long after the Civil War. So there are allot of cups that are speculated to have been used by soldiers during the Civil War that at best should be described as similar to cups thought to have been available and acquired by soldiers during the War.

[Brit-Tex]

Thank you! I just added a 1904 dated mess kit to my collection which includes 2- third pattern (1890s) tin plated and others dated: 1903, 1904, 1905 (all aluminum), 1910, 1913, 1915, 1917 (unissued), 1918...

[Brit-Tex]

I have one of the 1875 pattern cups. Mine appears to be galvanized or heavily plated after fabrication. Is this correct/ common?

[RT Ellis]

Documentation indicates that all of the p1875 cups were manufactured with sheet steel tin-plated purchased from commercial manufacturers. Documentation clearly demonstrates that Rock Island Arsenal set up a tinning operation and was repairing and re-tinning tin-plated equipment late in the 19th Century. Further documentation indicates that Benicia Arsenal, and Manila Ordnance Depot requested instructions to set up tinning plants for the same purpose.

The tin remaining on examples of original sheet steel tin-plated equipment demonstrates remarkable variations in deterioration. The most common form of deterioration was from wear in service and the tin was either rubbed off or in some cases melted when over-heated (this is most often observed on sheet steel tin-plated meat cans). Apparently over time tin sometimes turns a dark brown or gray, and I have observed sometimes separated from the steel and flaked off. I have observed what appears to be corrosion of the tin as demonstrated on your example and can only speculate that it is deterioration of the tin under unknown conditions. I would suggest that this form of "corrosion" may be as the result of re-tinning.

In the documents recording the manufacture of the seamless tin cup (pattern 1900) at first the cup was drawn from commercially manufactured sheet steel tin-plated. The drawing operation to form the cup removed some of the tin from the steel, and R.I.A. started manufacturing this cup from sheet steel and tinned the cup after forming. This cup was also subject to repair and re-tinning when returned from issue. (Repair and re-tinning continued at R.I.A. and was even contracted during the Great War. Documentation indicates that this equipment was mostly issued to the militia and military schools. The Marine Corps continued to request tin cups and meat cans as late as 1914)

I have observed deterioration of the tin, similar to your example, on the tin cup p1900 and would suggest that this form of deterioration of the tin may be as the result of the post manufacture or re-tinning of the metal. I would not call the deterioration of the tin on your cup common, but it is one of the forms of deterioration recorded.