Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. Original aviation can showing British War Department markings and a 1940 date. Originally these WW2 cans were manufactured to contain Petrol (gasoline) and are marked as such on the top:
1940
PETROLEUM SPIRIT
INFLAMMABLE
In short order, however, these were adopted by the Machine Gun Corp to be used as water condensing can with the water-cooled Vickers Machine Guns. The rapid Machine gun fire led to overheated barrels that were then liable to distortion so each gun was fitted with a water jacket as a cooling system.
The water reservoirs were connected by rubber hoses to these condenser cans so that stream would flow out of the jacket and into a partially filled water can condensing and could then to be poured back into the water reservoir and recycled.
At the start of WW1 Vickers MGs were equipped with canvas water buckets but these were soon found to be unsuitable and these cans soon adopted in their place.
This can is in fine condition for being manufactured more than 75 years ago, and is stamped on the bottom:
Even comes complete with the original brass cap.
Measures 11" x 9.5" x 6"
- This product is available for international shipping.
- Eligible for all payments - Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, Paypal & Sezzle
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