robinb Posted October 29, 2017 Share #1 Posted October 29, 2017 I first saw one of these poles maybe 15 years ago but didn't know what to think of it. The metal sleeves are thin and not very robust. My thought was that it was made for civilian use. But recently I ran across this photo of Corpsmen on Okinawa and they are using that pole as a plasma bottle stand. Now I know for sure they are a WW2 item, but were they always supposed to be a plasma bottle stand or is it a shelter half pole being used as such? The pole is sharpened on both ends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted October 30, 2017 Author Share #2 Posted October 30, 2017 It's marked on the metal in very small print: Commercial Metal Products Co. Phila PA USA Patent Appl'd For Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyCanteen Posted October 30, 2017 Share #3 Posted October 30, 2017 Great find on both the pole and the photo! Given the shape of the ends, I would go with it having been designed for a tent, but at least there is no doubt as to what it has been used for. I believe this is the patent for the pole: US2389811A "Nov. 27, 1945. H. OZLEK JOINT FOR POLES AND THE Filed July 20, 1943 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Invented W 2 hisatto Nov. 27, 1945. H. OZLEK 2,389 1 .JOINT FOR POLES ANDTHE LIKE Filed July 20, 1943 2- Shets-Sheet 2 9 .8 zf' f 7 4 mam; 1,3915 22,2225; if Patented Nov. 27, 1945 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE JOINT FOR POLES AND THE Herman Ozlek, Philadelphia, Pa. Application July 20, 1943, Serial No. 495,511" Cropped to show the hinge If you look at the illustration, they depicted as possible use as a tent pole and a fishing pole! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armysoldierant1944 Posted October 30, 2017 Share #4 Posted October 30, 2017 Awesome find! I have never seen this type before. Thank you for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted October 30, 2017 Author Share #5 Posted October 30, 2017 Iwo Jima this time. Dead center. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve1987 Posted October 30, 2017 Share #6 Posted October 30, 2017 Very informative post. I might keep an eye out for one of these now. It certainly does seem useful for Corpsman, maybe it was more stable to hold plasma than the normal type? Thanks, -Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reijnders Posted December 31, 2020 Share #7 Posted December 31, 2020 I recently found these tent poles, if anyone is interested please send a message. Regards, Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pwcosol Posted November 7, 2021 Share #8 Posted November 7, 2021 Picked up a very nice USMC shelter half this past weekend at a bi-annual militaria show in Phoenix with the pictured accessories. The slightly used Commercial Metal Products Co. tent pole was something I thought I had seen somewhere before (now I know!). This one has green paint on the metal fittings. Guess I will keep it as another variant likely issued out with the shelter half. Since it does not differ much from the traditional 3-segmented ones, either could undoubtedly serve other purposes (as the photos from both the Okinawa and Iwo Jima campaigns seem to indicate)... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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