U.S. GAS JERRYCAN MANUFACTURERS LIST (41-45)

Manufacturers, production numbers, configurations, etc.
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doug p.
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Re: U.S. GAS JERRYCAN MANUFACTURERS LIST (41-45)

Post by doug p. » Thu Dec 01, 2011 3:17 pm

A little late to reply, but I know that "Rudy" was located in Dowagiac,Michigan-the plant was a major employer all through the '60s and '70s. Most of my friends fathers worked there-even my brother worked there for a time. The plant is still there,located at the corner of E. Prairie Ronde and W. Railroad st (which becomes Rudy road past the plant). It's easily seen on Google Earth. I'm really not sure if it is still operating or not. During WW2 or the Korean War (or both), they also made .30 cal ammo cans.


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Re: U.S. GAS JERRYCAN MANUFACTURERS LIST (41-45)

Post by gerrykan » Thu Dec 01, 2011 3:32 pm

Never too late to share information. Thanks.
Roy

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Re: U.S. GAS JERRYCAN MANUFACTURERS LIST (41-45)

Post by gerrykan » Thu Dec 01, 2011 3:51 pm

Doug,
I followed your lead on Google Earth and captured a couple of present day images of the Rudy plant.
The signage says NCP/National Copper Products.

Image

Image
Roy

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Re: U.S. GAS JERRYCAN MANUFACTURERS LIST (41-45)

Post by doug p. » Fri Dec 02, 2011 1:35 am

Yep, that's it. This has started me thinking that I'd like to find a Rudy can for my Dodge.

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Re: U.S. GAS JERRYCAN MANUFACTURERS LIST (41-45)

Post by ChrisC » Fri Dec 02, 2011 3:59 am

Hey Doug!
We have been compiling a "master list" of Michigan companies that made items for the war effort, and I did have "Rudy Furnace Co." of Dowagiac on the list, the file has them listed as producing "gas tanks" I never put 2 and 2 together on that one.
The list has got to be so big that things get overlooked sometimes.

If you are ever over here on the east side, the museum is now officially open, stop in and say hello!

Chris
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Re: U.S. GAS JERRYCAN MANUFACTURERS LIST (41-45)

Post by doug p. » Fri Dec 02, 2011 9:19 am

Dowagiac was once a major furnace and stove-making center-there were at least three big makers there. I have a book, "Images of America, Dowagiac" with a number of wartime photos of military production at these plants. From the book:
" During WW2, Rudy produced ammunition boxes,gas cans,and gunsights for the M1 carbine. Premier (another furnace co.) manufactured ammunition boxes-565,000 wood boxes with metal liners by the end of the war. Dowagiac Steel Furnace made ammunition boxes,parts for Army trucks,boiler stacks,and water heaters for use on military bases"
Another famous old stove company, Round Oak, cast magnesium aircraft wheels during the war.
I have a number of these Rudy ammo cans,but no lids for them, unfortunately-my brother picked them up when an area of the plant was being cleared out. They had been used to hold bolts and such in the tool crib.

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Re: U.S. GAS JERRYCAN MANUFACTURERS LIST (41-45)

Post by ChrisC » Fri Dec 02, 2011 4:20 pm

Cool, I have added these three companies to our list for further research.
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1942 Ford GPW
1942 Chrysler Fire pump
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Re: U.S. GAS JERRYCAN MANUFACTURERS LIST (41-45)

Post by ChrisC » Mon Dec 12, 2011 6:32 am

Turns out we had a Rudy can in the museum collection already. Now that I know this was a MI company, it will be displayed and labeled accordingly.

Now to find one of the ammo cans.
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1951 M100
1952 M-37
1965 M-718
1985 Chevy M1028

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Re: U.S. GAS JERRYCAN MANUFACTURERS LIST (41-45)

Post by SB5477 » Sun Dec 18, 2011 12:43 am

Please, add G P as a can manufacturer.

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Re: U.S. GAS JERRYCAN MANUFACTURERS LIST (41-45)

Post by Mark & Don » Thu May 17, 2012 12:19 am

Greetings to all ,

This post is a little late but I just bought myself a Rudy made Jerry petrol can today .I found the factory information very helpful and interesting on the forum. :D

I have not come across this manufacture in OZ before. Here is some pics of it.Cheer's

Regards,

Mark
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Last edited by Mark & Don on Thu May 17, 2012 2:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: U.S. GAS JERRYCAN MANUFACTURERS LIST (41-45)

Post by Mark & Don » Thu May 17, 2012 12:28 am

Just some more pics to add of the can. Not sure if these are a common late war gas can manufacture and found on a regular basis :?: .I think it has been used for oil maybe post war here in Australia by Mobil company.

Regards,

Mark.
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$(KGrHqRHJC4E912P7GdHBPg!Wlmbpg~~60_3.jpg
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$(KGrHqNHJCME9ubOoDP0BPg!W6Cm0g~~60_3.jpg
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"I still remember my 1968 toy Cyclops Jeep pedal car as if it was yesterday" Even had the plastic M1 helmet !
"Where is it now" ?

Ford GPW 1944
Built Dallas TX Sept 1944
Willys 1944
MB-T trailer & restoring.
Cyclops toy Army Jeep pedal car 1959
Aussie made & restoring.

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Re: U.S. GAS JERRYCAN MANUFACTURERS LIST (41-45)

Post by old arkie » Sun Jan 27, 2013 7:04 am

can anyone tell me if the wheeling gas cans are considered a rare or hard to find item??????? The one I saw at a flea market 01/26/13 had a different type of lid and on the back end of the top was a indent about 1 inch in diameter any ideas about tis old arkie

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Re: U.S. GAS JERRYCAN MANUFACTURERS LIST (41-45)

Post by gerrykan » Sun Jan 27, 2013 11:43 am

old arkie,
Your description sounds like a 1941 galvanized can.
Not super rare, but usually more desirable than the 1942-45 standard cans.

1941 cans had a two lug(ear) lid with the chain riveted directly to the lid without the heavy wire bar seen on later cans.
The 1-inch indentation is thought to be an access hole for galvanizing the inside of the can.

It should be dated on the bottom 5-20-41.

Does it have a G(gasoline) or W(water) embossed into the side.
1941 screw lid water cans are rarer than 1941 gasoline cans.
Roy

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Re: U.S. GAS JERRYCAN MANUFACTURERS LIST (41-45)

Post by motto » Thu Apr 04, 2013 2:14 pm

I see the name Moblittsparks as being the name of a gerry can manufacturer. Is this any relation to the company that made the exhaust mufflers for the Dodge Weapons Carrier that is shown in TM 10-1531 as being Noblitt Sparks?

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Re: U.S. GAS JERRYCAN MANUFACTURERS LIST (41-45)

Post by Jeeperjoe » Thu Jun 13, 2013 2:32 pm

gerrykan wrote:old arkie,
Your description sounds like a 1941 galvanized can.
Not super rare, but usually more desirable than the 1942-45 standard cans.

1941 cans had a two lug(ear) lid with the chain riveted directly to the lid without the heavy wire bar seen on later cans.
The 1-inch indentation is thought to be an access hole for galvanizing the inside of the can.

It should be dated on the bottom 5-20-41.

Does it have a G(gasoline) or W(water) embossed into the side.
1941 screw lid water cans are rarer than 1941 gasoline cans.
Thanks for posting that Roy! I just picked up a W stamped 1941 Nesco screw top can today. I suspected that it was for water but this is the first confirmation of that.

Unfortunately, It had a DD on it and the original screw top is missing. Does anyone have a spare that they're willing to part with?


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