
PNEUMATIC LIFE PRESERVERS
#1
Posted 13 February 2007 - 05:17 PM
#2
Posted 13 February 2007 - 05:21 PM
-Matt.
#3
Posted 13 February 2007 - 07:50 PM
I say Yes, please do so. I would love to see some of that stuff and any history on the evolution of them.
The only vest I have in my collection is a B-4 manufactured in April, 1945 by New York Rubber Corp. I have not taken any pics of it or I would post them.
Charlie Flick
#5
Posted 15 February 2007 - 11:42 AM

Would it be possable for some one post a good pic of a usn Kapok life preserver.
Cheers,
Dave.
#6
Posted 16 February 2007 - 04:31 PM
#7
Posted 16 February 2007 - 04:41 PM
In 1931 the US navy adopted another design by Markus.This vest is of a wraparound style and included an automatic inflation system again designed by Peter Marcus later to be desiganted the MK-1 wraparound and used through the 1930's and till the end of WWII.On these vest there is a box which says"MFG'd under patents:
1694714
1766182
1772674
1798430"
All these patents are Marcus
The MK-1 was made by three companies:
hodgeman rubber co.
new york rubber corp.
unted states rubber co.
with the last contract being awarded in march 1942 being replaced by the B-4 in may as standard equipment.
the vest pictured is from my collection
#8
Posted 16 February 2007 - 04:50 PM
Edited by dustin, 16 February 2007 - 04:52 PM.
#9
Posted 16 February 2007 - 05:24 PM
In these two technicasl orders it states the vest is to be marked but that was not aways the case but often you will see:
T.O. 13-1-3 C.W. stenciled on a vest, TO menas technical order, and CW means "C"omplied "W"ith.An original manufactured 1942 1943 vest will not have anyof these technical order markings on them.
this an AAC B-4 manufacture in dec. 1942 from my collection and is void of markings except inspector and sepc.
#11
Posted 16 February 2007 - 05:32 PM
aircruisers inc.
B.F. goodrich tire & rubber co.
firestone tire & rubber co.
firestone rubber & latex co.
goodyear tire & rubber co.
hodgeman rubber co.
hood rubber co.
new york rubber corp.
republic
seamless rubber co.
united states rubber co.
at a cost of $10.00 each this vest was replaced by the type B-5.
these are some photos of the 6 month inspection and TO markings
#17
Posted 16 February 2007 - 05:55 PM
#18
Posted 16 February 2007 - 06:02 PM
aug 1944 states that only spec. AN-C-105 and stamped "USN" cylindersshall be issued for use in life vest.Attached is a picture of several types cylinders and the one on the far right is USN marked but could npt get a clear picture
#19
Posted 16 February 2007 - 07:48 PM
#21
Posted 16 February 2007 - 08:01 PM
from observations my MK-1 has the the same contract number as the B-4 cross pictured and has all the same markings but with an addition of the marking "style 5648" on the B-4 cross.I think since the B-4 was adopted in mid production of the last MK-1 contract, but instead of cancelling the order they changed production to B-4 spec.'s and dubbed it style 5648 ,they both share the same contract number.the B-4 cross pictured was on ebay some years back
My MK-1 for reference
Edited by dustin, 16 February 2007 - 08:02 PM.
#22
Posted 16 February 2007 - 08:11 PM
#24
Posted 16 February 2007 - 08:26 PM
there were two contractors for the B-5:
General tire & rubber co.
united states rubber co.
seamless rubber co.
Willis & geiger took over production post WWII era.
this picture of of a B-5 is from an ebay auction and and absolute excellent example of a WWII piece
Edited by dustin, 16 February 2007 - 08:27 PM.
#25
Posted 16 February 2007 - 08:30 PM
this is as far as I go on the life vest evolution as I know nothing of 1950'-60's development
Edited by dustin, 16 February 2007 - 08:33 PM.
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