79 replies to this topic

[dustin]

I was going through my papers and came across another interesting modification for life vest a adapter to hold preserver light it reads as follows:
"the adapter is to cemented to the life jacket,under the port flap so as not to interfere with CO2 bottle"

does anybody havee a modification on any of thier vests that seem to fit this vague discription?

[Sgt Brown]

Four pages on life vests.

We have too darned much time on our hands!

Tom http://www.usmilitar...tyle_emoticons/default/thumbsup.gif

[dustin]

Four pages on life vests.

We have too darned much time on our hands!

Tom http://www.usmilitar...tyle_emoticons/default/thumbsup.gif

hobbies are for the spare time,I guess my hobby is 50-50
There has been alot of views but not much response.I hope someone got something out of it!

[jerry_k]

a lot of MK-1 life vest and some B-3...

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•  Usmc_03.jpg   247.48K   14 downloads

[dustin]

good pictures jerry! in the second picture I would almost think those are nylon flight helmets they are wearing due to the dark color.

[dustin]

I thought I would post some life preserver FAKES.These are the only ones I know of.
These are produce by What Price Glory and are clearly marked with thier marking WPG.Thier B-3 is a close resemblence to the real thing but probably would not fool most.
The other vest they make is the USN MK-1 vest.This vest is a very good copy judgeing by the photographs and probably could fool some but it is marked W.P.G. as manufacturer which as we all like by reproducers is to have a marking of such to determine real over fake but with the right ageing and rubbing of the ink markings this vest might get you! this is the second generation MK-1 fake by WPG the other one they had was a light grey material and not put together very well.

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•  fake_b_3.jpg   30.13K   12 downloads
•  Mk1MaeWest.jpg   62.07K   12 downloads
•  Mk_I_Mae_West_Markings.jpg   96.38K   14 downloads

[Sgt Brown]

I thought I would post some life preserver FAKES.These are the only ones I know of.
These are produce by What Price Glory and are clearly marked with their marking WPG.their B-3 is a close resemblance to the real thing but probably would not fool most.
The other vest they make is the USN MK-1 vest.This vest is a very good copy judging by the photographs and probably could fool some but it is marked W.P.G. as manufacturer which as we all like by reproducers is to have a marking of such to determine real over fake but with the right ageing and rubbing of the ink markings this vest might get you! this is the second generation MK-1 fake by WPG the other one they had was a light grey material and not put together very well.

Dustin,

I just noticed another way to spot one of Jerry's repro Mk1 vests. On a real Mk1, one CO2 cylinder inflates the center of the vest and the other the outer flaps. Their positions on the vest are asymmetrical. On Jerry's repop, both cartridges are mounted symmetrically and, if they were real, would only inflate the center. Extra insurance that would prevent someone from using his vest as the basis of a counterfeit. Bravo Jerry!

Tom http://www.usmilitar...tyle_emoticons/default/thumbsup.gif

[jerry_k]

Hello. here is good photo of WW2 shark chaser... photo is from www.

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•  Shark_Chaser01.jpg   57.19K   14 downloads

[Gregory]

Hi

May 1942, the USMC airman and minty USN Mk I vest.

BTW --> what is correct terminology: Mk 1 or Mk I?

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•  1.jpg   78.16K   15 downloads

[rambob]

There was a nice picture of the lights to pin to the vest, but this one in my collection still has the original box with it. Thought you might be interested in the official designation of the light.

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•  Life_Vest_Light.jpg   20.11K   14 downloads

[dustin]

hey Bob, not to get too technical on ya but the official nomenclature is LIGHT,ATTACHABLE but close enough the government likes to read back words.
more than likely that was BMG's wasy of listing the light.
Packaging was left more to the contractors unless otherwise specified in the specifications given to them

[BC312]

Interesting posts. Are these jackets easy to clean up as i have seen some real grubby ones on ebay ie water stains. I was wondering if they would clean up a bit. What are the things to look out for when buying these jackets and what things perish.

[treadmill]

Does anybody have pictures of the proper accessories that went with the B5 life preserver..

such as ...Shark Repellant....Light Assy...Dye Marker Pkg. Thank you.

[Sgt Brown]

To my (limited) knowledge, there are no "proper" accessories to any life vest until the advent of the USN Mk II. One wore what accessories they either personally wanted or as ordered by higher-ups in their unit. From what photos I have seen, AAF guys carried little extra, maybe a dye packet. USN guys might be seen to have multiple dye packets, shark repellent, signal light and whistle. Then again, most photos of AAF guys are in Europe where they were only over the Channel for a relatively short period. USN/USMC fliers were over huge tracts of Pacific Ocean.

Remember, my log of being wrong is 2" thick and I am on Volume #4.

Tom http://www.usmilitar...tyle_emoticons/default/thumbsup.gif

[treadmill]

Thank you for info...so lets approach this from a different angle. Does anybody have any pictures...info...spec. on accessories that were used on life preservers in WW2. From what I have seen so far...there is some EXCELLENT pictures and great detail.

[SamuelChase]

I was wondering if anyone had any information on this life vest. It is marked with a date of 1945.

Thanks,
Chase

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•  IMGP0038.jpg   63.55K   13 downloads

Edited by SamuelChase, 22 April 2009 - 12:46 PM.

[craig_pickrall]

If you can read a date then there is probably a readable label with a model number and other info. The more info you can give the better your answer will be.

[SamuelChase]

If you can read a date then there is probably a readable label with a model number and other info. The more info you can give the better your answer will be.

Here is a picture with further information.

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•  IMGP0039.jpg   95.16K   12 downloads

[Bebel]

Strange red stamped date while 383xxx contracts numbers seem to not exist in 1945. And "Mil-" specs was introduced in 1950 or 1951.

[m14msgt]

this picture is of the collar to the B-4 above
also a picture of a 1943 manufactured AAC B-4 with service tag

Dustin - I have a B-4 dated 1945. I also have two of the green CO2 cartridges, that have never been used. I would like to insert them where they belong in the vest, but not sure which way is correct. Also...what size stencil letter were used for the T.O. 13-1-3 C.W. on the front of the vest? .5 or 1 inch letters/numbers?

thx

Edited by m14msgt, 21 June 2011 - 10:22 AM.