1942 Field Desk Find

[Celduin]

I was given this 1942 field desk by a friend of mine after this morning's high power match. I mostly collect field gear and uniforms, so a bulky camp item like this desk is something new for me.

 

 

The desk shows honest wear consistent with its age. My friend's father acquired this many years ago when the Washington National Guard museum liquidated some of its collection. He used it for years to store paperwork, then passed it to my friend, who kept it in his backyard tool shed and didn't really touch it beyond that. IIRC the WA National Guard saw action in New Guinea and the Philippines, so it's possible this field desk could've made the journey along with them. Speculation aside, I don't have any written provenance.

 

 

The leather handles on the side are still very supple and strong. The inside smells musty but that's about it. The Bakelite drawer rings are fragile but completely intact.

 

 

The desk was made by Oshkosh Trunks & Luggage on 12 December 1942. I had no idea that government stock numbers existed this early... I thought FSN's were exclusively a postwar thing. Despite being 75 years old, this field desk exhibits amazing craftsmanship. All the rivets are where they should be, and every wood panel fits where it should.

 

Anyways... What were its original contents? What would this have been used for? Is there a proper name for this field desk?

[Quartermaster]

According to the Quartermaster Supply Catalog QM 3-4 dated 1945, you have a Chest, Record, Fiber Stock No. 26-C-2834.

 

Some examples have brass drawer pulls.

 

Yes, the military assigned stock numbers to all it's items during WW2.

 

Typically the contents were as follows:

 

Top Drawer

Current council book and allied voucher file

Company property book and allied voucher file

Clothing & equipment records

Retained clothing requisitions & individual clothing slips

Blank forms, books, manuals, regulations and other important directives that are needed in the field (excess may be placed in lower compartments)

 

Left Section

Target record card - individual target records

5 year file section (5 sections by year of following)

Council books

Sick reports

Morning reports

etc

 

Top Right Section (actually both top & bottom right sections)

Morning reports

Company orders

Extracts from service records

etc - filed in fromt of alphabetical cards (6"X9")

 

Top Right Section contains letters "A" through "M" cards - Bottom Right Section contains letters "N" through "Z" cards

[Celduin]

Wow! Thanks for the extremely thorough response, Quartermaster.

[General Colt]

I wouldn't exactly call it a "Field Desk" but a "Records Chest". The field desk was a cube, while the depth of a records chest is not as deep as a field desk. I have a "records chest" that i called a field desk until a friend who specializes in these kind of things corrected me. Just a useless bit of info.

Coltie

[Celduin]

I wouldn't exactly call it a "Field Desk" but a "Records Chest". The field desk was a cube, while the depth of a records chest is not as deep as a field desk. I have a "records chest" that i called a field desk until a friend who specializes in these kind of things corrected me. Just a useless bit of info.

Coltie

 

Hardly useless. Now I know exactly what I have.

 

I don't collect paperwork, but at the very least I have a place to stick my loose WWII canteens.

[turmanator]

I have the same one. I use mine for a field kitchen in my GP Small tent and keep silverware in th drawer, plates in the left vertical space and bowls and napkins and such in the 2 horizontal spaces. Works perfectly!

[Dachoppa]

Anyone have a source for, or have some loose latches like used on these?

 

recently picked up a really great condition company level deal, but the hinged part of the lock is missing

 

let me know?

 

please send an email if you can hekp

[email protected]

[Dachoppa]

The field desk I picked up is dated November of 1940!

 

anyone have any older dated desks than this?

[Dachoppa]

Actually.

 

the unit I picked up was in fantastic condition, only missing the hinged portion of the lock 

It has all of the inserts and compartments 

Dated REALLY early.
11-15-40

Or is that the contact date?

I see another date :
C.Q.M.D  1-31-42

Anyone else have anything earlier?

[AirCorpsClerk]

On 7/28/2022 at 11:14 AM, Dachoppa said:

Actually.

 

the unit I picked up was in fantastic condition, only missing the hinged portion of the lock 

It has all of the inserts and compartments 

Dated REALLY early.
11-15-40

Or is that the contact date?

I see another date :
C.Q.M.D  1-31-42

Anyone else have anything earlier?

‘40 is the contract date. 
the “build-date” of your desk is ‘42.

I previously owned a ‘41 dated one. I believe I still have the tag from it. I sold it when I bought another one that was in much better condition, with intact original QMC spec finish. 

[m151mp]

i admit to knowing very little about these portable field units, but isn't this an actual company level field desk?

[Vanderbilt]

....good find....this was a box my Dad brought home from Camp Atterbury. My buddy and I made the shelf and drawer off images of other boxes. It's main function is being used to display family veterans pictures on Memorial Day. 

[Quartermaster]

Vanderbilt - yours is the Chest, Record, Fiber  Stock No. 26-C-2834

 

M151mp - yours is the Desk, Field, Fiber, Company   Stock no. 26-D 135

Judging from the construction - it is probably late or post WW2  (rivet assembly and lack of brass drawer pulls)

 

Below is the Desk, Field, Fiber, Headquarters  Stock No. 26-D-140

 

 

 

 

[Ronnie]

On 7/28/2022 at 9:48 AM, Dachoppa said:

Anyone have a source for, or have some loose latches like used on these?

 

recently picked up a really great condition company level deal, but the hinged part of the lock is missing

 

let me know?

 

please send an email if you can hekp

[email protected]

Vandykes has a lot of repro parts and may have what you need. They have the brass drawer pulls. Vandykes.com.

Hope this helps.

Ronnie