Mk 2 Carrier water can

[Kirk Armitage]

Picked this can up the other day, never paid attention until I got it beside another one. The common one on the left has rounded corners and the usual markings, the mystery one has sharp corners and no markings that I can find.Any info would be appreciated. Thanks K Armitage

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Kirk Armitage

....., the mystery one has sharp corners and no markings that I can find.

Not unlike many things, when the original items become hard to find, a certain asian country will begin to make copies to fill the demand.

While not specifically a military POL can, the area of petrol companies who also used these types of cans is an active and lucrative area of collecting, and so you can now buy "NEW" cans to fill your needs.

I wonder if Kirk's find is somebody's attempt to fill a need for a hard to find can?

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/GOLDEN-F...4AAOSwcw1ejnLK

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

I wonder if Kirk's find is somebody's attempt to fill a need for a hard to find can?

Not a single scratch or rust stain on the lily white 'PETROL'? after 75 years? Hmmmmm….

[Kirk Armitage]

Rest of the can is chipped paint ,worn look, some dents and small rust hole starting in the bottom. The can is slightly shorter than an original, also a shorter neck and the handle is straight not angled. Believe it came out of an antique store in ontario.
Kirk

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

Not unlike many things, when the original items become hard to find, a certain asian country will begin to make copies to fill the demand.

While not specifically a military POL can, the area of petrol companies who also used these types of cans is an active and lucrative area of collecting, and so you can now buy "NEW" cans to fill your needs.

I wonder if Kirk's find is somebody's attempt to fill a need for a hard to find can?

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/GOLDEN-F...4AAOSwcw1ejnLK

Oh how I wish I could buy these repro at $10 a pop from China. I think I'm up to 19 I need to fill my bins and would happily do it with lookalike dummies.

Kirk, is the cap thread size the same? Does the filler look grafted on?

[Michael R.]

... have a little faith ...

[Kirk Armitage]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

Oh how I wish I could buy these repro at $10 a pop from China. I think I'm up to 19 I need to fill my bins and would happily do it with lookalike dummies.

Kirk, is the cap thread size the same? Does the filler look grafted on?

Had another look Bruce , caps are the same , no ring on the neck for a chain. All the solder joints are old look ing, galvanized metal showing where scratched/chipped . If someone weathered this, their good. Either way it's going on the shelf as a possible imposter , but still green. Lol Kirk

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

I wonder what WW1 and between the wars cans look like. Maybe slide it from the imposter shelf to the incredibly rare one?

[rob love]

Here is a link to a distributor of these cans in the UK. Some are impressed with company script like shell and castrol, and others are merely painted. Some of these cans are being made in aluminum as well. I saw a link on another site for newly made cans in distressed look.
https://www.reproductions.co.uk/27-c...il-cans?page=5

We may well be able to fill our vehicles with not only reproduction cans of good quality, but also cans that can contain useable fluids.

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

Oh how I wish I could buy these repro at $10 a pop from China.

Can't quite get that low, $12.50ea is about the cheapest we can get from India!

Seems any logo is available, Shell, Castrol, Rolls Royce. If wonder if we could commission some MLU cans?

https://www.alibaba.com/product-deta...16881aabx5canS

https://www.alibaba.com/product-deta...534178182D8L6P

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

Can't quite get that low, $12.50ea is about the cheapest we can get from India!

Seems any logo is available, Shell, Castrol, Rolls Royce. If wonder if we could commission some MLU cans?

https://www.alibaba.com/product-deta...16881aabx5canS

https://www.alibaba.com/product-deta...534178182D8L6P

I need 19 not 200!!

I think a run of new made PETROL and WATER cans would sell. Maybe these guys should be made aware there is a market for them.

[David Herbert]

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

If wonder if we could commission some MLU cans?

How about 'CMP' ones, that would confuse people

David

[rob love]

The Alibaba ad does mention :

For product pricing, customization, or other inquiries:contact supplier

[Tony Smith]

Flat paint, or just in primer, would be top of the list!

[Ed Storey]

Originally Posted by Kirk Armitage

Picked this can up the other day, never paid attention until I got it beside another one. The common one on the left has rounded corners and the usual markings, the mystery one has sharp corners and no markings that I can find.Any info would be appreciated. Thanks K Armitage

The petrol tin with the square corners may be Australian.

[Kirk Armitage]

Thanks Ed , I'll start looking that direction, any hint on what made you think it's Australian ?
Regards K Armitage

[Ed Storey]

There is a photograph on page 192 of David B. Gordon's book, Equipment of the WWII Tommy - Revised and Expanded - 2010 ISBN 1-57510-151-4, which illustrates the tops of four petrol tins; the one with the square corners is identified as being Australian. This would need to be varified from a primary source but is certainly a good lead as to where to start looking.

Good luck with your hunt.

[Robert Bergeron]

This thread is getting very interesting . I did not know that GSW Canada ( General Steel Wares ) made cans specificaly for desert warfare . Witnness these two 2 Gallon and 1 Gallon sand coloured cans . Marked GSW with C Broad Arrow marked and both dated 1943 ! I got them just today and this is the original sand colour not a repaint . More pictures to follow .

FEDB39A8-F3FD-428B-ACA6-F7374DF65544.jpeg

Both very well marked GSW 1943

B01EBCC0-2AEF-482C-B458-9D620747D171.jpeg

Top view . C Broad arrow marks . GSW . 1943 . Brass caps . Amazing barn find ! Could this colour scheme correspond to outfitting of Carriers and CMP trucks for the North African and Sicilian campaigns ?

DD57D546-EF26-4A73-9ABE-A7EDB2F002AA.jpeg

I am truly surprised by this find .

391AF7F6-30FE-47A9-8E30-F7D51B0E5FA0.jpeg

[Ron Pier]

Robert I already posted this picture of my 1943 desert colour oil can in post 41 of this thread. Exactly like yours. Ron

[Robert Bergeron]

Thank you Ron. Now we know both the 1 gal and the 2 gal cans were made in sand colour for specific theatres of operation . It gives a clear indication of the production capacity and flexibility of Canadian industrial production during the war . A definitive strategic advantage over the opposition .