A-8B Oxygen Masks and Type ? AAF Cap

[a2jacketpatches]

After a bunch of guys dug through a foot locker, I found this stuff at the bottom when they were done. I can't ID the cap, but the O2 masks are early WW2 A-8B's the bladder is complete on one but is punctured, and the other bladder is shredded. These are going for quite a bit from what I found out. The cap will look a little dark in these photos because I rinsed it with water to get dust and rat turds cleaned out a bit. It seems to be strong but I didn't stress test it too much, I'm a 7-1/4 and it is too small for me, but no tag to tell exactly what size or type it is.

 

[watchmanjimg]

I'm curious what others have to say, but I think the cap is a modified A-3 overdyed in dark blue.

 

[a2jacketpatches]

It's actually a nice light OD, but like I say, It's wet right now from being rinsed. Makes sense, a little grease on the B-11 Jacket, mechanic specialist patches with a bunch of NCO stripes. What would the snap be for?

 

[watchmanjimg]

Wow, it really looks blue on my monitor. Anyway, I believe Dave discussed the snaps in a recent thread. They were used to attach the oxygen mask I think.

 

[dmar836]

Looks like an A-3 to me.

 

[a2jacketpatches]

I looked them up and it's an A3 for sure, it's in pretty rough condition but I thought to be the best item I found next to the B-11. Then I looked up the O2 masks, one was sold in march for 255- stiff rubber and cracking. The rubber on these seem fresh as new. The bladders are NG, but can be replaced by a repop or original, available with a quick search and depending on how much you want to spend. I think they went bad because they are very thin.

 

[dmar836]

Those bladders are always the first to go. These were made post war but most are dated '42 or '43. Finding one with the original bladder intact is the hard part. I suppose in a few short years most will be sold/ traded with repop bladders. Good find!

 

[dujardin]

nice found...congrats

saved by the bell..

 

[archbury918]

Very nice find!!!
As for the bladders, the USN still used that mask configuration into the 70's. Some aircraft/warbird suppliers still have them. Much better quality than the repops out of Pakistan.

When you're ready to sell, you know who to contact!

 

[dmar836]

Ebay? Both are already posted there.

 

[a2jacketpatches]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... RK:MESE:IT