DOUGHBOYS: World WAr I-Gas Masks

Gas Masks Page Click on the images for a larger image.
When the US entered the Great War in April 1917, her troops did not have a standard gas mask to use in combat. Several Masks of the Allies were evaluated and it was decided to adopt the British small box respirator for strong gases, and the French M2 for weaker gases. American manufactured masks were created based on the British Small Box Respirator. However the American masks had improved features. Many of these masks were manufactured during the War years making it possible to own a specimen. Unfortunately most gas masks would harden up with age and improper storage resulting in brittleness of the rubber inside the mask and a hard or crushed hose. American gas mask variations are pictured below.
American Box Respirator
After the initial issue of British masks to the doughboys, the U.S. began imediate production of masks to equip the hundreds of thousands of soldiers soon to fill out the AEF. The first batch of about 25,000 masks were delivered to U.S. troops, but a fault in the design rendered them useless against actual poison gases. As a result, the 25, 000 masks were retained as training gas masks. The soldier cuttings onions in this photograph wears an example of the scarce American Box Respirator. The canister would be painted black which indentifies it as a training mask. Also the exhale valve lacks the steel bracket, found on the later U.S. Masks. This mask was improved upon and evolved into the Corrected English Mask.
Corrected English Mask
After the failure of the American Box Respirator, the mask was slightly improved and the Corrected English Model gas mask was created. This is the first version of the CEM which is identified by the wide bracket guarding the exhale valve. This mask has celluloid lenses and the early yellow filter canister. The face piece was marked with it's size, 2-Small through 5-Large. Size 3 is seen stamped on this mask.
This photo shows the inside of the gas mask, illustrating the snorkel-like mouth piece and rubber nose clips. Early gas masks such as this one had a mouth piece which the soldier would breathe through, sort of like a scuba diving snorkel. A rubber nose clip held the nose shut to prevent the soldier from breathing in any unfiltered air. Masks such as these were uncomfortable when worn for long periods of time.

Corrected English Mask
This later variation of the mask has glass lenses, yellow cannister, and the third style bracket protecting the exhale valve.
Richardson-Flory-Kops Mask
The Richardson-Flory-Kops was an improved version of the Corrected English Mask. This mask uses glass lenses, the third type of valve guard, and green cannister. Also the face piece is slightly wider than that of the CEM. The key distinguishing feature of the RFK is the harness which used two straps at the top of the head, rather than one found on the CEM.

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