Markings

The collector often becomes interested in the markings (both authorized and non authorized) that adorns military gear.  WWI personal equipment is a fertile field for those obsessed with markings. Equipment was (but not always) marked by the manufacture with their logo and dates.  Units often marked their equipment prior to or even after issue to their troops.  Finally the individual soldier often marked their personal equipment with their personal identification marks as well as decorations and other personal information.

Although not comprehensive, samples of common markings found on WWI personal equipment are highlighted below.

Manufactures

There were a variety of manufactures tasked with the production of the personal gear needed for the new army of Doughboys. There were 32 primary contractors who were awarded contracts over $100,000. By January 1, 1919 total expenditures came to $28,644,378.00.

Many (but not all) of the manufactures struck their logos on their products.  Below are examples of typical manufactures marks as found on WWI personal gear:

	US AGMC CO 1918 Canteen. Aluminum Goods Manufacturing Co. of Newark, NJ.
	US ACA 1918 Canteen Aluminum Co. of America, NY and Pittsburgh, PA
	US 1918 B.A.CO. Canteen Buckeye Aluminum Co. of Wooster, OH
	US 1918 J.W.B.M. CO. Canteen Cup JW Brown Manufacturing Co. Columbus, OH
	US L. F. & C. 1918 Canteen Cup Landers Fray & Clark, New Britain, CT
	LONG 2 17 1917 Mounted Canteen Cover R. H. Long, Framington, MA
	POWERS 1917 1910 Canteen Unmounted Canteen Cover Powers Mfg. Co. Waterloo, IA
	MILLER MEXTER CO 1917 1910 Canteen Cover (Contract Under 100,000 Not Listed)
	US T.USA Co. 1917 M1910 Meat Can Tin Decorating Co. Baltimore MD.
	US W.S. Co. 1918 M1910 Meat Can Wheeling Stamping Co. Wheeling WVA.
	US L. F. & C. 1918 1910 Meat Can Landers Fray & Clark, New Britain, CT
	US  1918 "Anchor Symbol" France M1917 Meat Can, Iron, Manufactured in France (Unusual) Unknown Contractor

Unit Markings

The doughboys and at times the units they were assigned to marked utensils, canteens, and other personal gear with unit markings. They may range from stenciled marks on the carriers to stampings in the metal of the gear. Many of the stampings were done with the standard issued stamp kit used to letter dog tags.  The dog tag kit had places on its anvil fixed to hold messket handles, spoons, knives and fork handles for marking.

Unit issued stamping kit. For marking of dog tags, and other equipment.

The photo left shows a typical unit marking on the a meat can lid. "Co. B, 116 MG Bn, 98" (98th Division)

Personal Engravings/Personal Markings

The American Doughboys often found themselves with time on their hands. Some of them elected to engrave their equipment with a variety of decorative markings and personal identification. The most common article decorated was the soft aluminum of the canteen body.  Although there were a number of methods of accomplishing this personal decoration the most common seems to be the use of a sharpened tool to cut a design or name into the body of the canteen. This was accomplished by pressing the sharpened end of the tool into the soft Aluminum body of the flask and with a sort of rocking motion slow carves a design or name into the surface. Just plain scratching is a second common practice it is rare to find a design with much more sophisticated engraving entered.

	M 1910 Meat Can Bottom. Hand engraved/decorated with 29th Division symbol. Unit indicated was Battery B, 111 Field Artillery. Includes owners name (T. F. Jordan) and campaigns. Authors collection, from the estate of Fred Parker, Orange Co. Virginia.
	M 1910 Meat Can Lid. Owners name and unit scratched into aluminum. O. Little, Co. F, 147 Inf. AEF.
	M 1010 Meat Can Bottom. Owners initials and unit scratched into bottom. CLC, Supply Co. 168 Infantry. Battle Relic recovered from Argonne Battlefield. Donated to author's collection by Collections International of Verdun Fr., Jeff Titeux proprietor.
	M 1910 Canteen, Hand Engraved Hand engraved with YD (Yankee, 26th Division) AEF. US 104th Infantry on bottom and W.H.F.B Co B on back side. Found in Argonne Battlefield and donated to collection by Collections International of Verdun Fr. Jeff Titeux proprietor.
	M 1910 Canteen Hand Engraved. Engraved into side of canteen, Private John D. Foster, Pennsylvania National Guard and unit.
	M 1910 Canteen, Professional Level of Engraving. This example shows a much higher level of skill in the engraving. Aviation unit with history of owner's service and dates.
	M 1910 Canteen. This example is engraved with The US flag and the inscription "Hammel We Don Our Bit". Research indicates that this canteen refers to the action of the US 33rd Division which was the only US unit to be engaged at Hammel.

	M1910 Meat Can (Messkit)		M1910 Canteen Assembly
	M1910 Bacon & Condiment Cans		Personal and Manufactures Marks
	Battlefield Recoveries		Return to Home