The Condiment Can was another personal issue item. It's purpose was to hold coffee, sugar, salt or other additives that could be used to make the army ration more palatable. It had two compartments with lids that tightly fitted the can. The can would keep salt, pepper, flower, or sugar dry when sealed.
The Condiment Can has not been observed to have been marked with a manufactures stamp or any other model or US markings.
|
|
The can its self is of three parts. The main body is 5 inches long and is a 2.5 x 2.5 square box like construction. It is constructed of rolled iron and is tin plated to help prevent rusting. The main body is separated into two compartments by a bulkhead in its middle. On the each end of the body a cap is fitted. These are round and screw onto the ends of the can. the smaller of the two caps is about .25 inches tall and has no gasket on its interior to seal out moisture. the other cap is two inches in diameter and has a compartment in it which is sealed with a paint can type of press in lid. This forms an additional small .5 inch deep compartment in the body of the larger lid. |
The Government took delivery of 6,057,580 cans by the Armistice. A final inventory of material disclosed 1,777,262 of these both new and salvaged remained in stock.
The 1910 bacon tin was issued to the field soldier in which to keep his ration of salt meat or bacon issue. It was abandoned as an issue item after WW1 in favor of canned rations in the field. The lids are marked "Model of 1916" and occasionally embossed with manufacturers logos and manufacturing dates.
 |
.The bacon can is of stamped tin with a galvanized or tin dip. It measures 7 inches long, 2.5 inches wide and is 3 inches deep. The lid which is one inch deep fits over the bottom 2/3 of the can. |
By the 1918 Armistice the contractors had delivered 4,077,560 of these. Issue surviving the War is unknown since they were not to be a post war part of the soldiers kit and were not included in the final inventory. Many of these though found their way into the civilian market. The author has observed them sold as the container for a Shoe Shine Kit, marketed in the 1920-30's.
 |
M1910 Meat Can (Messkit) |  |
M1910 Canteen Assembly |
 |
M1910 Bacon & Condiment Cans |  |
Personal and Manufactures Marks |
 |
Battlefield Recoveries |  |
Return to Home |