An awesome way to see old dates on WW2, WW1 field gear

1,420 · December 26, 2009

When I first got my first piece of field gear, a M45 Mussette Bag I think, It had a MFG date and maker I could not make out. A couple of years later I got a Sony DC something and was taking video of my gear and turned on the Night Vision mode. For some reason, I could make out the dates and maker like it was newly stamped on to the canvas.

I have a Khaki Haversack that had a "19.." something (the last 2 digits were covered w/ paint) I looked throught the screen with N.V. and it was a 1918 Haversack.

Has anyone tried this before?

Sam

20,218 · December 26, 2009

When I first got my first piece of field gear, a M45 Mussette Bag I think, It had a MFG date and maker I could not make out. A couple of years later I got a Sony DC something and was taking video of my gear and turned on the Night Vision mode. For some reason, I could make out the dates and maker like it was newly stamped on to the canvas.

I have a Khaki Haversack that had a "19.." something (the last 2 digits were covered w/ paint) I looked throught the screen with N.V. and it was a 1918 Haversack.

Has anyone tried this before?

Sam

No, but now I'll have to get my Sony Digital 8 camcorder back from my sister and give it a try.

1,362 · December 28, 2009

Ill have to try this with my set of nightvision goggles!

Haydn

1,362 · December 29, 2009

HOLY CRAP IT WORKS!! I found out dates on my cartridge belt, FA pouch, and a canteen, this is awesome, thanks!

Haydn

2,333 · December 29, 2009

HOLY CRAP IT WORKS!! I found out dates on my cartridge belt, FA pouch, and a canteen, this is awesome, thanks!
Haydn

Did you use the ones that came with Call of Duty? I'll try this trick with those... It sounds amazing!! :w00t:

1,420 · December 29, 2009

HOLY CRAP IT WORKS!! I found out dates on my cartridge belt, FA pouch, and a canteen, this is awesome, thanks!
Haydn

Haha No problem!

1,362 · December 30, 2009

Did you use the ones that came with Call of Duty? I'll try this trick with those... It sounds amazing!! :w00t:

lol I actually did! I have two pairs of night vision, one cod set, and a $20 pair from somewhere. I might have to bring a pair of night vision goggles when i go to flea markets now!

Haydn

1,182 · December 30, 2009

An amber lensed flashlight works very well on khaki and leather to bring out old stamps as well.

3,548 · December 30, 2009

May i suggest pinning this? It seems to provide good results.

Rob

8,497 · December 30, 2009

Pinned it is.

January 8, 2010

I've used a blue lens flashlight to read the red ink stampings on wool shirts before. I'll have to use the NVGs and see if I can read other stuff. Does it work better if it is khaki or OD or about the same?

Thanks for a good tip.

1,420 · January 8, 2010

I've used a blue lens flashlight to read the red ink stampings on wool shirts before. I'll have to use the NVGs and see if I can read other stuff. Does it work better if it is khaki or OD or about the same?

Thanks for a good tip.

The same. Obviously you will be able to read a stamp better if it is not too faded... but you can usually make it out anyway.

2,724 · February 24, 2010

I suspect it is due to the camera being able to see way down into infrared. Most do.

The best use for that is to see if a remote control is actually working (look at it through a video camera and you'll see it flashing).

I would guess some part of the ink is more reflective of IR light than the visible spectrum, so it stands out more.

1,420 · February 27, 2010

I suspect it is due to the camera being able to see way down into infrared. Most do.

The best use for that is to see if a remote control is actually working (look at it through a video camera and you'll see it flashing).

I would guess some part of the ink is more reflective of IR light than the visible spectrum, so it stands out more.

Cool. Im going to try that now.

1,001 · April 23, 2010

After reading this post. I got out my old baby video monitor.

It was made for seeing in the dark when the child is sleeping.

It worked very well and the monitor is large so you can even take a picture of what is uncovered.

Great post.

Pep

May 1, 2010

WOW, that is awesome. Thanks for the tip!

May 1, 2010

WOW, that is awesome. Thanks for the tip!

Here's an example of my results

1,001 · May 19, 2010

Excellent shot.

I have found with Mills equipment stampings the results are dramatic.

Yes, it is the same belt.

July 7, 2010

Has anybody done a comparison test between a Digital Camera and a Baby Monitor?

I would be nice to see which method is best

20,218 · July 16, 2010

Has anybody done a comparison test between a Digital Camera and a Baby Monitor?

I would be nice to see which method is best

I can tell you that a camcorder with night vision will be a whole lot better: it has a far superior lens and image chip and you have the ability to focus on close objects: baby monitors will be out-focus with close objects.

In the interest of science, I spent $60 this week to buy a used baby monitor from Ebay.

As with most or all of these, it has a wireless connection to its monitor, which degrades the image quality further. This one as a "auto sensor" for night vision, but I took some photos with early morning light coming into my studio. I will say that despite the image quality problems, it pleasantly surprised in one of the two tests. I shot a canvas jungle first aid pouch and a web belt. Both of these are not only totally unreadable, but on the jungle pouch it's hard to even tell there is writing.

Here's the pouch:

It seems to show the date as 1945 and with a little detective work I could probably determine the maker (the list at http://wing.chez-alice.fr/USA/US_equipment.html is a good guide to makers names).

With the belt, the results were unusable. I suspect the very rough weave of the belts is the problem.

In the future I will show results with the same objects on a baby monitor and camcorder. I see old Digital-8 camcorders with Night Vision for maybe $30-40 at thrift stores. Even if they don't record, they are still perfectly good for this purpose.

July 24, 2010

Thank you for the helpfull information :thumbsup:

1,001 · July 26, 2010

I can tell you that a camcorder with night vision will be a whole lot better: it has a far superior lens and image chip and you have the ability to focus on close objects: baby monitors will be out-focus with close objects.

In the interest of science, I spent $60 this week to buy a used baby monitor from Ebay.

As with most or all of these, it has a wireless connection to its monitor, which degrades the image quality further. This one as a "auto sensor" for night vision, but I took some photos with early morning light coming into my studio. I will say that despite the image quality problems, it pleasantly surprised in one of the two tests. I shot a canvas jungle first aid pouch and a web belt. Both of these are not only totally unreadable, but on the jungle pouch it's hard to even tell there is writing.

Here's the pouch:

It seems to show the date as 1945 and with a little detective work I could probably determine the maker (the list at http://wing.chez-alice.fr/USA/US_equipment.html is a good guide to makers names).

With the belt, the results were unusable. I suspect the very rough weave of the belts is the problem.

In the future I will show results with the same objects on a baby monitor and camcorder. I see old Digital-8 camcorders with Night Vision for maybe $30-40 at thrift stores. Even if they don't record, they are still perfectly good for this purpose.

I had the same focus issue with my baby cam. While fiddling with it I found I could rotate the camara lens to focus up close.

Pep

August 31, 2010

When I first got my first piece of field gear, a M45 Mussette Bag I think, It had a MFG date and maker I could not make out. A couple of years later I got a Sony DC something and was taking video of my gear and turned on the Night Vision mode. For some reason, I could make out the dates and maker like it was newly stamped on to the canvas.

I have a Khaki Haversack that had a "19.." something (the last 2 digits were covered w/ paint) I looked throught the screen with N.V. and it was a 1918 Haversack.

Has anyone tried this before?

Sam

WOW!!!! both methods work! The IR on my night scope tends to overwhelm things a bit, but practice will take care of that.

Thanks for the ideas.

Tom

September 18, 2010

The NV Setup works on number stamped or engraved in metal about 80% of the time. I let the area warm up in the Sun, then look at it. I'm guessing that it works because where the metal was engraved or stamped, it is denser and heats at a different rate.

Tom

March 19, 2011

HOLY CRAP IT WORKS!! I found out dates on my cartridge belt, FA pouch, and a canteen, this is awesome, thanks!
Haydn

thank you for the info. Don

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An awesome way to see old dates on WW2, WW1 field gear

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