About 1950-56, I had that exact gas mask but without the filter canister. I wore that crazy thing constantly! At the time, WW2 surplus was flooding the surplus stores and it was a great time to be a kid! I concur about the age of the gas mask.
Flash
US M4 gas mask, produced from 1942-1949. It had many features in common with the M3 series, including the M2A2 facepiece, internal nosecup, outlet valve, shorter hose and lighter M10A1 canister. The M4 series masks were made of natural rubber in olive drab color. The Army ordered 250,000 of the masks. A modification to the outlet valve resulted in the M4A1 Lightweight Mask in 1945. The mask was obsoleted in 1949.
Source: http://gasmaskandrespirator.wikia.com/wiki/U.S._M4
Good info, thank you. I think I discussed this mask with you a couple years ago.
Is $40 a fair price for it?
Just a suggestion..........
The cracking of the rubber is a real turn off to a collector. Check Amazon for their listings of foreign gas masks. I bought several for those tear gas moments.
Chicago in the 1960's, and especially around the Democratic National Convention of 1968, Black Panthers riots etc, had tear gas floating over many parts of the city! Rioters used Easy Off Oven Cleaner as "Mace" and Molotov Cocktails during the conflicts. It was a special time!
Flash