{"product_id":"original-british-pre-wwii-1933-dated-vickers-machine-gun-water-can-by-pratt-petrol-2-gallons","title":"Original British Pre-WWII 1933 Dated Vickers Machine Gun Water Can by Pratt - Petrol 2 Gallons","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. Originally these WW2 cans were manufactured to contain Petrol (gasoline) and are embossed on the top:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePRATTS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePETROLEUM SPIRIT, HIGHLY INFLAMMABLE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn short order, however, these were adopted by the Machine Gun Corp to be used as water condensing can with the water-cooled Vickers Machine Guns. The rapid Machine gun fire led to overheated barrels that were then liable to distortion so each gun was fitted with a water jacket as a cooling system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe water reservoirs were connected by rubber hoses to these condenser cans so that stream would flow out of the jacket and into a partially filled water can condensing and could then to be poured back into the water reservoir and recycled.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the start of WW1 Vickers MGs were equipped with canvas water buckets but these were soon found to be unsuitable and these cans soon adopted in their place. Pre-WW2 DATED examples are very rare, mostly post WW1 cans are encountered and many of these saw service in WW2.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis can in fine condition with all original paint (multiple layers) for being 85 years old and is stamped \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e7  33\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e for July 1933 on the bottom along with \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVALOR\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEven comes complete with the original brass cap also marked \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePRATTS!\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":6050808430630,"sku":"ON4796","price":195.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/products\/ON4796__03.jpg?v=1604189834","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-british-pre-wwii-1933-dated-vickers-machine-gun-water-can-by-pratt-petrol-2-gallons","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}