MESS CUPS-PATTERN 1900 & 1908

[BEAST]

I have a couple of what I believe are Span-Am period mess cups, but I can't find a pattern for them. They are both different then the cup developed by the 1874 board, but I am not sure what pattern date these are. I assume the white enamel is a mess hall cup or hospital, and the tinned cup is a soldier's cup.

 

Any help would be appreciated!

 

 

 

 

[BEAST]

[BEAST]

 

 

Thanks in advance!

[jprostak]

The cup on the left is a "Fiscal" 1908 tinned cup. The Army trialed this cup in a tinned finish and a graniteware finish. The cup was produced by a contractor, so no RIA or date stamp. It is not a Span-Am cup. The US Army in this time period was testing many different metals and finishes for equipment. (Copper canteens and Aluminum Bayonets) Notice that this cup is similar to the model 1908 cup (sometimes called the Cavalry cup, but this is incorrect) In 1908 the Army introduced a smaller haversack that the cup would go inside of. The cup would no loner be carried on the strap of the haversack.

[BEAST]

Thanks for the information! I saw an example of the 1908 cup on the Army's history site, but wasn't sure if mine was the same model or not. When the 1910 equipment was provided to the Regular Army, were the 1908 cups provided to the National Guard? Or did the Guard maintain the 1870's pattern until they received the 1910 pattern?

 

[jprostak]

As far as I know, National Guard troops would have kept what they were using until it was replaced with the 1910 equipment. NG Infantry units made the change over fairly quickly. Most non-Infantry units in the NG and Regular Army kept using the (Model) 1908 and earlier haversacks. I have not seen any information on issuing the NG new cups. It dosn't mean it didn't happen, just that I have not seen any correspondence at the Archives on that topic.

[BEAST]

I was looking around for more information on this cup and ran across this website: http://www.mcpheetersantiquemilitaria.com/08_mess_gear/08_item_006.htm

 

On his website he has a very similar cup without the slot in the handle that he identifies as having been introduced in the late 19th century during the Spanish-American war.

 

Here is the cup followed by his description:

 

 

SPANISH AMERICAN WAR ERA CUP –MARKED “US”: Another in the progression of cups introduced in the late 19^th Century, this pattern of US Army Mess Cup is plainly embossed with a ¾” high “US” in the bottom of the cup. Generally believed to have been introduced about the time of the Spanish American War, this cup was apparently produced in sufficient numbers to have been well represented in the general issues of equipment.

Possibly a predecessor to the later Model 1908 Experimental Cup, this is the first of the shorter cups to be tried by the army, measuring 2 ¾” high and 4 ¾” in diameter. Drawn from a single piece of iron in the same manner as the “Soup Cup” and the cups that would be issued after 1900, this cup has a flat bottom with a small rounded edge.

This specimen is full form and in spite of its age is in very good condition with no holes or heavy corrosion. A large percentage of the original tin plating is still present and bright, and the handle is intact and firmly attached. The body of the cup has a few spots of minor pitting, confined to one side of the cup and one spot on the bottom, but none of these areas have pin holes nor have they caused any weak spots.