Restoring WW2 A-9 Oxygen Mask

[buzzbomb]

Hello all, I have just recent come in to possession of a bare bones A-9 mask from WW2. 
 

any one know where I could find a period/loose hose, nose wire or head straps that would be period correct?? 
 

dated 1-42. 
 

 

[P-59A]

The A-9 and A-10 used the same system. it took me a long time to find that jolliet strap. Finding those smalls on the loose will require some diligent digging. I ended up putting the hose from a A-14 mask on mine.

[Steve B.]

I don't even know if they're still in business, but Garcia Aviation out of California used to have all sorts of weird little odds and ends.  You might try them.

[buzzbomb]

1 hour ago, Steve B. said:

I don't even know if they're still in business, but Garcia Aviation out of California used to have all sorts of weird little odds and ends.  You might try them.

Thanks. Will follow that up! 

[phantomfixer]

Garcia is still in business

 

[buzzbomb]

No luck or return of query with this one. Any one know of any parts?

[jerry_k]

Sorry to say but I guess it is a useless piece of old A-9 mask. Find spare parts to restore it it would be a rare thing! Try to find a complete mask nothing more...

 

Good luck,

Jerry

[Bluenoser352]

Hello Buzzbomb, the only way to restore that mask to be 100% correct would be to find another cheap A9, with a scrap body, and salvage all the harness and hose from it. 
 

We sourced a quantity of those unused A9 bodies, just like you have there, and turned them into A-10Cs for Masters Of The Air. We had to make the harnesses and source the hoses (post war ones, that were close) and assemble it all using modern day cam buckles which were painted OD. They looked great for a film and very authentic. But as a perfect WWII collectible artefact you would want to find all-original parts and that’s impossible, save for as I say finding another junk one and stripping it of the necessary parts to resurrect this one. Definitely worth doing if you can find one as nice condition complete A9s are not common. 
 

The hoses on the A9s are unique to that mask too. You can’t use one from an A14 and be 100% correct. The A9 hose is short and grey/green in colour. Later masks had marginally longer hoses and more green in shade. 
 

So you need to find another A9 with a body that’s shot, but still has a good harness and hose (complete with the end nozzle).
 

tip: The hose clamp the secures the hose to the body is very fragile - designed to be attached and crimped only once. Taking them off and reattaching them requires very delicate handling. Don’t bend the ears and tang more than you have to, otherwise they will break as it’s a thin tin-like metal - without that fastener your mask will not be 100% and the only way to get another one will be to find another junk mask 😉. Good luck - it’s not impossible to achieve 👍. Gary Eastman

[buzzbomb]

On 10/5/2024 at 8:42 PM, Bluenoser352 said:

Hello Buzzbomb, the only way to restore that mask to be 100% correct would be to find another cheap A9, with a scrap body, and salvage all the harness and hose from it. 
 

We sourced a quantity of those unused A9 bodies, just like you have there, and turned them into A-10Cs for Masters Of The Air. We had to make the harnesses and source the hoses (post war ones, that were close) and assemble it all using modern day cam buckles which were painted OD. They looked great for a film and very authentic. But as a perfect WWII collectible artefact you would want to find all-original parts and that’s impossible, save for as I say finding another junk one and stripping it of the necessary parts to resurrect this one. Definitely worth doing if you can find one as nice condition complete A9s are not common. 
 

The hoses on the A9s are unique to that mask too. You can’t use one from an A14 and be 100% correct. The A9 hose is short and grey/green in colour. Later masks had marginally longer hoses and more green in shade. 
 

So you need to find another A9 with a body that’s shot, but still has a good harness and hose (complete with the end nozzle).
 

tip: The hose clamp the secures the hose to the body is very fragile - designed to be attached and crimped only once. Taking them off and reattaching them requires very delicate handling. Don’t bend the ears and tang more than you have to, otherwise they will break as it’s a thin tin-like metal - without that fastener your mask will not be 100% and the only way to get another one will be to find another junk mask 😉. Good luck - it’s not impossible to achieve 👍. Gary Eastman

Thank you Gary for that run down. I will be looking out for a beat up  always!  
 

 

[JohnK83882]

This is a product, last time i checked, for the platens on printing machines but I wonder if this product could be of any help to restoring flexibility to rubber artifacts.

 

https://www.parts-express.com/CAIG-RBR100L-25C-Rubber-Cleaner-and-Rejuvenator-25mL-341-287

[landon]

Hey, there I know I'm a little late, but I also managed to acquire a nose a9 body way back, I decided to cut it down to the body of a a10, it was not perfect but I used a post war 16 inch hose, a modern valve connecter, and I managed to make straps, and source buckles, I also managed to weld snap clips, I hope this helps

[landon]