“Entrenching Tool, Combination” factory crate

[Brian Keith]

My buddie dug this out today, he said he’s had it for years. Factory packing crate for 20 entrenching tools. It is from Harvey Whipple Incorporated of Springfield, Massachusetts. He bought one tool with the crate. Note that the color is a much different green that the 1968 dated Ames shovel. The H-W is almost a Chi-Com green! Also note the shovel is dated 1952, and the crate was packed, June, 55 (6-55), likely the 1952 is the contract date. I found H-W Inc. made "Master Kraft" oil burners; automatic heating equipment; warm air furnaces; suspended furnaces; industrial heating apparatus; etc.

Thanks for looking, comments welcome!

BKW

[milsurp_scout_14]

Now that is neat! Never seen a packing crate for these! Now I know what H-W means too.

[Brian Keith]

Thanks for your comments, I had not seen one of these either, non did I know of "H-W"either!

Best Regards,

BKW

[j. t. thompson]

 That crate is from late in the Harvey Whipple production run. Four shipments were made in June 1955. (June 6,  June 10,  June 17, and June 24.) Total deliveries for the month, approximately 30,000 tools. 

After that, only three further shipments were made, in July 1955.

 

 Source:  Meriden Industries Company v. The United States

                 Decided November 9, 1967