Lederschutzmaske GM17 WW1 German Gas Mask Collection Update

[ColonelDietrich]

hi i just bought my own ww1 german gasm mask and i was wondering do ww1 gas masks have asbestos in the filters like ww2 gas masks?

[RetroRespirators]

@ColonelDietrich It's often debated, but I'm still sticking to my guns that they do not. Asbestos would have been woven into the aerosol barriers alongside other fibrous materials in later filters. The aerosol barriers in these earlier filters was simplistic at best. Basically, the filter consists of a cotton based layer, mesh screen, and filter carbon with added compounds such as soda lime or potassium carbonate to neutralize certain agents. Still, handle the filters with care.

Thanks,

Dan

[TheGamer1468]

put it on lol

[RaidenTheUntertanger]

Is it contaminated or can you wear it?

[galacnor]

@RaidenTheUntertanger

No, I would not say that it's contaminated any longer as it has been near 100 years since world war one and anything that was on there would have died off by now and its the same case with the filter. But you never want to wear these old masks because they are rusty and if painted would have lead paint on them, breathing in these particals is bad for your lungs. It's also a precaution to protect the mask as it is a piece of history and should be admired not played with.

[DeathRow200]

I have same mask, very poor condition. And it has hole in its forehead, and its bloody*hrr*. Im not going to put it in my head!

[bikegirl2]

put some high quality bees wax on the leather as soon as you can. it will really save it!

[Jackal739]

Hey did you get the extra lens things in the packs in the top of the canister? From what I saw in mine there are and the seller says that the night lenses are already in the mask.

How much did you pay for it anyway?

[RetroRespirators]

@Jackal739 Nah, I don't have the instructions or anything, just the carrier. I bought it for around $70. I'd like to get a nicer one sometime.

[Jackal739]

@RetroRespirators

You see them start at like $100 and they end up at $300-400! $70 is a pretty good deal. Even the ones with holes in the leather go for alot! And when I do get my GM-17 should I put one of those airbags in it? To keep the shape, maybe i'll have to go and put one in my ASBR. I think i'll do that with my ASBR and GM-17 can't really help out my RFK or CEM cause they are flat like most that you see that were jammed into the carrier and left to rot. :(

[RetroRespirators]

@RetroRespirators Though I did forget that I have another mask based on the GM-18 facepiece. It does not have the reinforcement behind the lenses. I bought it thinking that it was a GM-18. However, there is 1938 lettering on the lense. I suppose that it is possible that it is a GM-18 with later antifog inserts from the GM-38 masks or so installed. ??

[MGS2392]

@Jackal739 I believe I've read from several sources that those lenses actually go on the inside of the mask, and are designed to reduce fogging up of the lenses. It apparently is called the Klarscheiben, or anti fog lense, and has a gelatin like coating.

I had a "stupid me" moment in regards to one of these on eBay. Had it on my watch list, but plopped on the couch, woke up, checked my phone, and smacked myself. It was listed as WWII, and sold for a whopping $10.

[RetroRespirators]

@MGS2392 Ah shame. Always bad when you know you could have bought the mask and missed it. I remember missing out on an experimental due to loosing internet connection in the last 10 minutes :( I guess the game is you win some and loose some.

[RetroRespirators]

@jrenize Because the lenses are made of celluloid, an early plastic derived from plant material. It was believed that they protected the celluloid should the lenses be pushed inwards. If you look at my French A.N.P. T31 vid, you will notice that certain artillery versions were made for some masks. This GM17 is not an artilley model per se though. These are getting harder and harder to find without paying a fortune. Of course mine isn't in the best or most complete condition.

[morbidangelofdeath1]

lmao the eye pieces look like the scope in darth vaders ship at the end of the first one where he says the force is strong with this one and when luke is in the middle of it and he says i have you now,that looks the same. if i wore this in the field i couldn't help from saying that when i looked at someone. masks see you coming with gloves their like oh shit is it time for my psychical already?!?!?!

[RetroRespirators]

@napalm350z

LOL Haven't thought of that, but you are right :)

[BowlSheetFilms]

I just got a 1937 German gm30 gas mask. Is it safe to breathe with the filter on? If not, is it safe to breathe with the filter off? Sorry if the answer is obvious I'm a noob to this kind of stuff haha.

[RetroRespirators]

@BowlSheetFilms

I would avoid breathing through it if at all possible, as with pretty much any older or expired filters. People are so concerned about asbestos that they forget that it is NOT the only dangerous content within a filter. Breathing through old filters just isn't a good idea. However, if you feel the need to wear the mask, it is safe to do so as long as the filter isn't installed. Hope this helps.

Regards,

Dan

[BowlSheetFilms]

@RetroRespirators Okay thanks a lot for the help pal this really clears things up.

[ProSkating100]

thats really cool. where do you buy your masks?

[RetroRespirators]

@ProSkating100

This one came from ebay. That's mainly where I get my masks. Other sources include other collectors and places such as estate sales and flea markets.

Thanks,

Dan

[Toria8796]

i have a wwi american gas mask and im only 10 years old

[thewerdoisme]

how come you have so many old gas masks? did you gtem in a value pack or somthing?

[RetroRespirators]

@thewerdoisme

A WW1 value pack? LOL Nah man. I prefer the older masks to the newer masks. Old masks, like this one from WW1, are getting rarer and rarer as time goes by. Modern masks will be around many years into the future. I'm afraid that these will not. Pieces like this mask represent critical points in the development of the modern mask as we know it. Don't get me wrong. New masks are great. They just aren't the same though. The older masks are the ones that draw my interest.

Thanks.

[PinoyPogiman]

@RetroRespirators this is why we collectors collect these artifacts of warfare history.

i just dont get why people dont understand.

new masks are great like you said, they're for general purpose or just to collect

old masks are great mementos of history and should be remembered because the people of the future "growing kids" will have to remember this

[RetroRespirators]

@PinoyPogiman Well said. Older masks just feel like they are made of history, especially WW1 masks. I don't know where this mask in particular has been, but to have a mask where the bag is customized and ID'ed is amazing. You can track it back to the soldier that carried it. Some of the time, the mask you are holding in your hands has been through some pretty intense engagements. I always like the masks that would have one hell of a story to tell if they could talk.

Thanks,

Dan

[PinoyPogiman]

@RetroRespirators agreed

[Echomanual5]

Note the wire ring with a bit of cord still attached.. The cord was an adjustable loop attached to the harness and served to pull the canister closer to the face. This field change reduced the interior volume and consequently the rebreathing of " dead " air. See " All Quiet on the Western Front " by Eric Remarque to see how German troops used the masks in the trenches.

[RetroRespirators]

Wow. I didn't know that. I thought that it was just to reduce the strain on the facepiece from the mask mounted filter design. Reducing the dead space makes a lot of sense. I'll check out either the movie or the book. Thanks for the information.

Regards,

Dan

[xMyFireBreathingDogx]

you got that off ebay? wow, where do people find those?

[RetroRespirators]

Lol. Good question. It's amazing that any of these military pieces survive. I would guess that this has been in somebody's attic or shed or something, as it's not in the best of condition. It is interesting to think where something like this has been for 90 years. Thanks.

Regards,

Dan

[xMyFireBreathingDogx]

@RetroRespirators i never seen a single person wear the lederschutzmaske before.

[RetroRespirators]

@xMyFireBreathingDogx

I have seen some recent pictures of somebody wearing one. Doesn't look like a pleasant or comfortable situation. I also wouldn't breathe the filter contents. There is no asbestos or anything, but the filter components in a filter that old have usually decayed to the point that it is easily turned to very fine dust that one would not want to breathe in. There are plenty of WW1 pictures of these in action though. Thanks for the comment.

Regards,

Dan

[Echomanual5]

Many years ago, I had the use of one of these in operational condition and wore it for an hour or more. Air in and air out goes through the cannister as there is no exhaust valve, and breathing resistance increases in both directions as the cannister heats up and takes on moisture. CO2 builds up and I was zonked after the hour. Today's soldiers don't know how well off they are with modern masks.

[RetroRespirators]

Yeah, that's very true. As you were saying, I am sure that the absence of the exhale valve would complicate breathing. The later Lederschutzmaskes were improved with the addition of an exhale valve. Not only that, I'd imagine these are very difficult to see out of.

Regards,

Dan

[MilitariaCollector45]

I wish i had one of those this is an awsome vid 5*

[RetroRespirators]

Thanks. $78 on ebay. A great amount of these survive in somewhat decent condition considering their age. New ones show up on ebay quite often. If you keep an eye out for one, you may be able to get a great deal.

[McLOVINMike]

haha i saw this on ebay! its another one of those guys who doesnt know what he was selling. he just called it a WWII german mask!!! lol

[RetroRespirators]

@McLOVINMike

Yep, that was the one lol. Ended up getting it for $78.

[McLOVINMike]

yeah i saw the final bid before it ended. i got a review and unboxing comin on my mystermask as soon as i make em and get them uploaded!

[NandoPalmira]

you know you can get an actual ww2 helmet at a flee market.

[RetroRespirators]

@NandoPalmira

Thanks. I actually have a WW2 German M40 helmet. I would really like to have a WW1 German M16 helmet to go along with this mask.

[cessnaoneeightytwo]

i have a german M-16, but it has no liner because it detoriated

[RetroRespirators]

@cessnaoneeightytwo

Very nice. I'd take one regardless if it had a liner or not. Either way, it's an interesting piece of history.

[BenjamOnToastGood]

Nice one, mate... very eerie lookin

[RetroRespirators]

@BenjamOnToastGood

Thanks. I agree.