March 15-17, 2022 Collectible Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/16/2022
Excellent example of a British WWI tank crew splatter mask. Soon after the introduction of tanks in WWI, it was soon realized that the dangers were not exclusive to men outside of the armor. These early tanks were lightly armored and the crews were still vulnerable despite the armor plating that surrounded them. Worn in conjunction with the steel Brody helmets, these masks would protect tank crewmen in case a round penetrated the tank's armor or caused a shockwave outside of the tank that would cause small pieces of fragmented metal and lead paint fragments flying around the inside of the tank, which could cause serious injury to the eyes and face. The mask features a metal eye covering that is covered with brown leather and padded on the reverse for the comfort of the crewman. There are metal eye apertures which feature pierced horizontal slits in order to prevent complete visibility. The lower section is constructed of chain mail in order to protect the mouth. Completing the mask is a cotton tie strap which could be used to secure the mask to the crewman's face. CONDITION: The leather covering and padding both remain soft with wear evident on both sides. The eye apertures retain almost all of their original brown paint. Chain mail remains intact with 2 small holes where the chains have separated from each other. The cotton tie strap remains firm with no fraying or tears. These masks were produced in relatively small numbers and many have not survived or are incomplete. This is a great example of tank crewman gear from a time when armored warfare was in its infancy. Overall very good. JLD
Item Dimensions: 6" x 4"