English, Chief of the Industrial Service. Porter, Chief of the Chemical Warfare Service, and Col. Barker, Chief of the Technical Division, Walt Disney, Maj. Fisher, Chief of the Civil Defense Division, Col. The production gas masks were made from compression molded rubber according to the founder’s son Richard Smith. It took just thirty days to design and make the first prototype of the mask. Bernard McDermott, a product designer at Sun, worked with Rempel to make plaster impressions of many children’s faces in order to develop a universal composite mold design. With the support of Walt Disney, The Sun Rubber Company engaged local Ohio toy designer Dietrich Rempel to design a mask in the shape of Mickey Mouse’s head. Smith, the owner of The Sun Rubber Company, first approached Disney about creating a children’s gas mask using Disney characters. Just imagine how much better the reaction would be to the program you have under consideration.” T.S. As the aforementioned letter went on to point out, “…the use of “Mickey Mouse” has had a soothing effect on the little children in England. (see footnote 2)Ī natural product extension for the company was gas masks, especially for children, and it is clear that there was some correspondence between Disney, Sun Rubber and the War Department on creating an actual Mickey Mouse Gas Mask. The company ceased manufacturing of rubber toys once the U.S. The company made face blanks for high-altitude oxygen masks and respirators, corrugated rubber mask tubing, rubber bellows for testing the fitness of high-altitude oxygen masks, grommets for batteries and flashlight equipment, pipeline gaskets, rubber bonded to metal applications, self-sealing fuel cells for airplanes, and they were already manufacturing gas masks for the military.
Army Chemical Corps.The Sun Rubber Company was a manufacturer of consumer goods that focused on educational and recreational toys, office specialties and custom-molded rubber items and surgical goods. (see footnote 1)Ī production version of the Mickey Mouse Gas Mask, courtesy of the U.S. It was part of a discussion of manufacturing gas masks, including ones for children, for distribution to civilians in the United States. Porter, Chief of Chemical Warfare at the War Department in Washington D.C.
Smith, the owner and General Manager of The Sun Rubber Company of Ohio, to Major General William N. It looked nothing like Mickey Mouse but as it was explained in a note from the Disney London office: “The name was given to it by Wardens and others who had the job of fitting them on small children, and the name Mickey Mouse was used to alleviate the fears of any these tiny tots who might be frightened at the sight of a gas mask.” The Disney note was relayed by T.S. They also designed a gas mask specifically for children which quickly became known as a “Mickey Mouse” gas mask. The issuing of gas masks to every household in the country was a prudent act by the British government. It looked nothing like Mickey Mouse but was still referred as such to soothe the fear in children. The design uses bright colors along with a floppy nose element that served only as a decorative devise to add character to the mask. This mask is very difficult to find on the market, but its British look-a-like is a little more common.British Government issued child’s gas mask. Both of the examples above have the marking "G C MK III" which could help prove they're both from the UK. Further evidence helping this theory is the markings on the filters. Another theory of this black Mickey Mouse mask could be that it was an earlier variant of the British model, and that the black colored face piece did not convince children how "fun" the gas mask could be, but rather scared them away. The mask has also been claimed to be called the "Minnie Mouse" mask. The markings on the filter and on the back of the mask near the right-side strap appear to be a "C" with an arrow pointing up in the middle. Mickey, wearing it, is actually attempting to frighten his nephews, by saying, "Booo-oo." One thinks "He's a bear," while the more astute of them, proclaims, "Sonly 'Unca' Mickey!” Local sources, and some collectors, including Johannes, have claimed it was Canadian, but it is very possible this mask was used in other countries as well. Actually, the illustration on the can addresses the fact that it is scary. Apparently, the idea of including Mickey was to make the whole concept of a gas mask seem more friendly. Made by the English tin toy manufacturer, Happy Knack. This is a very rare Canadian Mickey Gas mask with the original and difficult to find Tin Litho Mickey Can.
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