Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. The Japanese Army Model 99 gas mask was definitely the most commonly used Japanese gas mask during the war. It features a soft tan rubber face piece and an elastic/fabric head harness. A variation of the Model 99 was also issued with the filter attached directly to the face piece. The Model 99 is most likely a civilian mask but it may have been used by the military as well. Thousands of these masks were issued to civilians in case of chemical attack or for firefighting, and that is exactly what we have here. They are more or less identical to the Army issue, except with different packaging and labeling. Sid Wilson of heavy metal band Slipknot was known to have worn one of these masks on rare occasions, as well as several other gas masks.
This example is in excellent condition, and shows no signs of being issued or used during the WWII period. All of the components are present, and it is even still in the original cardboard box, which unfortunately has suffered damage and degradation over the years. The mask itself is fantastic condition, with the rubber still supple showing no dry rot or other degradation. The harness is great and springy, and the attached rubber hose is also still soft and pliable. The only condition issue is that the inner lens on the right eyepiece has deteriorated. It has kanji markings molded into the rubber on the inside, including 昭 15, for the 15th Year of the Showa Era, or 1940.
The included bag and filter are in similar condition, and the filter even still has the original thin waxed paper wrapping intact! The filter has both the cork top plug AND the lower rubber stopper still installed, and is completely unissued. It also has a date on the label reading 昭和 15 年, for 1940. There is also serial number 165769.
A truly excellent unissued example, the likes of which we are unlikely to see any time in the near future. Comes more than ready for further research and display!
The Type 99 Gas Mask was a gas mask used by Japan during World War II. The ‘99’ in its name comes from the 2599th anniversary from when the first Japanese emperor took the throne. The mask was issued in two main versions, the mask which had a hose going to a filter, and the other which didn’t and had the filter fastened directly onto the mask. The mask was also issued in different colors, brown, beige and the rare black. The most common of these masks is the hoseless beige mask. It was issued to both civilians and the military.
All variations of the Type 99 gas mask were issued in a small bag or carrier. The masks with a hose were also given a filter carrier, which could be hung around the neck, or were issued with a larger bag that held both the filter and the mask. Some of the masks had aluminum removable lens covers, so that the glass lenses could be replaced if damaged, these are fixed. Some filters were able to input a 'prefilter' which further filtered airborne chemicals and other gasses. The Type 99 is made out of rubber and covered in some form of mesh fabric (having the same texture of a sack), of which is unknown.
- This product is available for international shipping.
- Eligible for all payments - Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, Paypal & Sezzle
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