anyone have a PREWAR round 5 gallon can for sale

Manufacturers, production numbers, configurations, etc.
Tom Campbell
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anyone have a PREWAR round 5 gallon can for sale

Post by Tom Campbell » Wed Jan 17, 2018 8:59 pm

Looking for a decent example of the round 5 gallon cans that were used BEFORE the jerry can. Photos show them round with two large ribs (sort of like a beer keg) one handle on top and two openings for filling. Like to have one for my small collection of jerry cans. Also would like to know how they were marked, painted - stamped - date? Thanks, Tom Campbell


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Re: anyone have a PREWAR round 5 gallon can for sale

Post by Hammerhead » Thu Jan 18, 2018 5:26 am

I would love if someone can post pictures of one!
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Re: anyone have a PREWAR round 5 gallon can for sale

Post by philbrinson » Sun Jan 21, 2018 4:24 pm

Are you certain they were 5 gallon and not 10 gallon? I bought one of these last year.

http://g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=283670

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Re: anyone have a PREWAR round 5 gallon can for sale

Post by Tom Campbell » Sun Jan 21, 2018 9:05 pm

There is a photo from LIFE Magazine of the 1941 Louisiana Maneuvers showing one being used to refuel a L-4 (Piper Cub) and it certainly "looks" like a 5 gallon can. possibly galvanized. I received this photo from the Facebook - Jerry Can site which is about the best photo I have been able to see. It looks like it is galvanized, but I'd really like to hear from somebody who actually has one of these things in hand. Are they galvanized? Are they painted OD? Are the marked in any way; Manufacturer, Date????
If anybody has a spare I'd sure like to talk to them about it. Tom Campbell
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Re: anyone have a PREWAR round 5 gallon can for sale

Post by Rustman » Mon Jan 22, 2018 2:53 am

Not sure how this one fits into the timeline or if it was actually for lubricating oil and not fuel? But here's a round 5 gallon can I bought off eBay that is marked for USAAF on the bottom:

viewtopic.php?f=37&t=292751

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Re: anyone have a PREWAR round 5 gallon can for sale

Post by Tom Campbell » Mon Jan 22, 2018 5:14 pm

Phil, I can NOT verify that it is 5 gallon or 10 gallon. Some photos show cans that look taller - which I presume are 10 gallon; however, the one from the Life Magazine showing the guys refueling a plane "look" shorter than the 10 gallon cans so again I presume they were 5 gallons. But that being said I have absolutely NO CERTAIN KNOWLEDGE of the prewar cans. Thanks, Tom

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Re: anyone have a PREWAR round 5 gallon can for sale

Post by Robin » Tue Jan 23, 2018 6:18 pm

5, 10, and 15 gallon WW2 drums. The one in the photo with the airplane is a 10 gallon drum since it has two caps on the top plus a handle. The 5 and 15 gallon drums do not have all of those features.
Image
15 gallon markings:
Image
10 gallon markings:
Image
5 gallon markings:
Image
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Re: anyone have a PREWAR round 5 gallon can for sale

Post by Hammerhead » Wed Jan 24, 2018 4:55 pm

Cool pictures! Thanks to everyone posting them!
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Re: anyone have a PREWAR round 5 gallon can for sale

Post by Tom Campbell » Wed Jan 24, 2018 5:32 pm

THANKS - ROBIN!! Best view ever of the now confirmed 10 gallon can. Now that we (read "I") know that there were both 5 and 10 gallon cans, which one was commonly used for fuel?

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Re: anyone have a PREWAR round 5 gallon can for sale

Post by Robin » Wed Jan 24, 2018 5:57 pm

Somewhere I have a 1941 manual from Ft Benning that pictures the items carried in trucks during a motor march. In many pictures there is what appear to be a 5 gallon drum that's the same diameter as my 1940 10 gallon drum, but only half as tall. When I find the manual I'll post pics.

The USAAF 5 gallon drum that I pictured was used for many fluids. One of mine has a Medical Department stock number stenciled on it that references alcohol. I have not seen any of the USAAF drums dated before 1943.
Last edited by Robin on Wed Jan 24, 2018 6:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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44 K38 trailer
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Re: anyone have a PREWAR round 5 gallon can for sale

Post by Robin » Wed Jan 24, 2018 6:08 pm

Found the book. You can also see the pre War brass gas can nozzle.
Image
Image
41 M3 37mm A/T gun
42 M1A1 75mm pack how
43 MBT trailer
43 WC52
43 WC62
44 Chevy 1.5 ton
44 MZ2 USMC radio Jeep
44 RL35 reel cart
44 K38 trailer
43 K52 trailer
43 M3A4 handcarts(8)
M1942 USMC handcart
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M1917 Ammo cart
43 Columbia bike

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Re: anyone have a PREWAR round 5 gallon can for sale

Post by Robin » Wed Jan 24, 2018 6:10 pm

There are also some 10 gallon drums pictured. Notice the chain keeping the cap from getting lost.
Image
Another 10 gallon drum.
Image
41 M3 37mm A/T gun
42 M1A1 75mm pack how
43 MBT trailer
43 WC52
43 WC62
44 Chevy 1.5 ton
44 MZ2 USMC radio Jeep
44 RL35 reel cart
44 K38 trailer
43 K52 trailer
43 M3A4 handcarts(8)
M1942 USMC handcart
M1917 Litter Carrier
M1917 Ammo cart
43 Columbia bike

Robin
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Re: anyone have a PREWAR round 5 gallon can for sale

Post by Robin » Wed Jan 24, 2018 6:11 pm

This is the best shot of the 5 gallon drums.
Image
41 M3 37mm A/T gun
42 M1A1 75mm pack how
43 MBT trailer
43 WC52
43 WC62
44 Chevy 1.5 ton
44 MZ2 USMC radio Jeep
44 RL35 reel cart
44 K38 trailer
43 K52 trailer
43 M3A4 handcarts(8)
M1942 USMC handcart
M1917 Litter Carrier
M1917 Ammo cart
43 Columbia bike

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Re: anyone have a PREWAR round 5 gallon can for sale

Post by gerrykan » Thu Jan 25, 2018 3:46 pm

Robin,
I understand that you are cropping the pictures to give us the best view of the cans.

Since we can't see the entire picture, did a truck carry a maximum of 10 gallons of gasoline?
Either two 5-gallon cans, or one 10-gallon can, but not a combination of both?
Roy

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Re: anyone have a PREWAR round 5 gallon can for sale

Post by Robin » Thu Jan 25, 2018 4:11 pm

You are correct. I looked at every photo in the book and it always depicts 10 gallons total extra fuel. No matter if it's a 1/2 ton Dodge, 1 1/2 ton or 2 1/2 ton truck. With one exception. None of the medical vehicles have any fuel drums at all.
41 M3 37mm A/T gun
42 M1A1 75mm pack how
43 MBT trailer
43 WC52
43 WC62
44 Chevy 1.5 ton
44 MZ2 USMC radio Jeep
44 RL35 reel cart
44 K38 trailer
43 K52 trailer
43 M3A4 handcarts(8)
M1942 USMC handcart
M1917 Litter Carrier
M1917 Ammo cart
43 Columbia bike


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