Original Items: Only One Set Available. Now this is an incredible piece of WWI and WWII history! These items were produced during the later years of WWI and were kept in service into WWII when they were issued to T/Sgt Leslie R. Miller (ASN: 35552994), who then painted a lovely unclothed pinup girl on the front of the canteen. We have not been able to locate much information on T/sgt Miller, but what we were able to find is that he was born in 1915 and enlisted on April 2, 1943 out of Hawaii. This is a wonderful research opportunity and not a terrible item to have displayed!

The 1909 Infantry Equipment Board introduced a completely new set of field equipment. The board had 300 sheet tinned steel canteens and cups manufactured by Rock Island Arsenal, and 500 canteens and cups manufactured by The Aluminum Goods Manufacturing Company, sent out for trial in 1909. The company held a patent for the process of manufacturing seamless one piece products. In 1910 the board decided to adopt the aluminum canteen and the first production canteens were made by A.G.M. Co. in sets with cups.

In 1911 the Army began searching for a method of manufacturing canteens that would not require paying royalties to A.G.M. for the patented "spinning" process of making seamless aluminum canteens. By 1912 Rock Island Arsenal had developed a satisfactory technique of welding aluminum and went into production. The welded canteens were made of two halves that were welded together around the outer edge.

This canteen is a welded, unmarked, 1914 Rock Island Arsenal manufactured canteen with improved German silver neck with a lug which secures the cap chain with a small pin. The early RIA caps were similar to those manufactured by the A.G.M. Co., but the caps are slightly larger and have cross checked knurling in a band at the top. This canteen has an improved cap featuring a domed top and full knurling on the side.

The canteen is in wonderful condition with the expected dings and dents present in the body, but nothing too damaging. The painted image of the woman is retained quite well but there is paint loss present on the face and upper shoulder, but is still easily discernible. The reverse is engraved with L.R. MILLER.

During World War I, the Quartermaster Corps assumed responsibility for individual equipment including canteen cups. These cups were manufactured under contract using the specifications developed in 1910. In 1918 the Quartermaster Corps contracted for cups to be manufactured by: The Aluminum Company of America (ACA); Aluminum Goods Manufacturing Co. (AGM Co); Buckeye Aluminum Co. (BA Co.); The J. W. Brown Manufacturing Co. (T.J.W.B.M.CO.); Landers, Frary & Clark (L F & C). The letters U.S., the name or symbol of the company and the year of manufacture are stamped either on the bottom of the cup or on the top of the handle.

This is a lovely example of an M1910 canteen cup which is stamped on the bottom with:

U.S.
L.F. & C.
1918

Also present on the bottom is the last name MILLER, which was engraved by hand just like the canteen. The overall condition is really good but it does have the expected scratching, nicks and wear present.

The canteen adopted by the Infantry Equipment board required a separate cover. The new cover, designated as Cover, Canteen, Dismounted, M-1910, (mounted troops continued to use the earlier pattern canteen), was made of olive drab canvas reinforced around the exterior edges with olive drab cloth binding tape. Inside, the cover was lined with a gray felt material for insulation. There were two flaps at the top that left an opening for the canteen spout. A number of fasteners were examined during the equipment trials; however a stud fastener with a top that looked like a bronze general service button was selected for production. On the back of the cover there was a pattern 1910 double belt hook was held in place by a piece of webbing that was folded over and stitched. The M-1910 canteen cover, with only minor modifications, would continue in use into the 1960s

Beginning in 1942, a change to specifications authorized dismounted canteen covers to be produced with side seams rather than a single seam in the back. In April 1944, the color of all Army web equipment was changed to olive drab shade 7. This cover is a lovely M-1910/42 cover in the earlier pattern color with the seams on the side as per the specifications change. The cover is stamped on the back with JEFF. Q.M.D. / 1943. Other markings include L.R. MILLER stamped onto the bottom with the laundry number m-2994 faintly written above. The overall condition is really good and does show signs of of heavy use and wear with no significant damage present. There is some staining present and also what appears to be blood colored droplets present along the right side.

This is a wonderful, matching canteen and cup set with incredible artwork present. Comes more than ready for further research and display.