Post
by bombtech » Tue Dec 31, 2013 5:19 pm
Roy,
Thanks so much for posting the Conco news, it is a great reflection of the people and patriotism of our great country in a time of war. In my study of the photos a few questions come to mind for the group.
The cans in the photo “hitler shutters” seem to be what we have, till now, called the Mystery can. However in the photo “fair maiden” the can in background looks like the same type but is referred to as British. Does that suggest the cans were being made for the British forces? if so were they painted the dusty yellow colour we often see on Mystery cans in preparation for the British desert campaigns? Or were these cans patterned from the British supplied sample of the original German can, and thus called the British can? I find it hard to believe a US company was making cans for the British in August of 1943. By my limited database, the British had at least three companies making their cans in 1942 and eleven by 1943.
Next Evelyn, Dorothy and Eileen are all working on three-piece US pattern cans with the Euro cam lock spout. The text states these cans as both Hybrid and Marine, we on this forum have called them expeditionary cans. I wonder if this discrepancy is a factor of our diverse American language. Since many of the people working the line may have come from the nearby farms, the term hybrid was familiar. They would have clearly understood the mating of a USA pattern can body with the Euro design spout, just like cattle breeding or plant propagation. The term Marine can may have been from the contracting office or knowing the end user. As for expedition, during the prewar and war time, US and other forces were often called; Marine, Army, British, etc… Expeditionary Forces. I do not concur with the idea that they were called Expedition because of the X shaped side impressions.
Cheers,
Rick
WAC B&G MVT
1987 HMMWV w/ M101A3
1989 Perentie for sale
1966 M274A2 Mechanical Mule
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