In the years immediately prior to World War Two (1937-1939) the British populace was issued with gas masks in anticipation of chemical weapons being dropped during air raids in the pending conflict. Some 40 million of all types were issued during this period.
In the USA, the Disney Corporation helped design a gas mask for issue to small children; this was to all intents and purposes a mask which offered both the anti-gas protection, along with an element of 'play' so as to not frighten its wearers (it was a full representation of the face of Mickey Mouse).
In the USA, the Disney Corporation helped design a gas mask for issue to small children; this was to all intents and purposes a mask which offered both the anti-gas protection, along with an element of 'play' so as to not frighten its wearers (it was a full representation of the face of Mickey Mouse).
The British version utilised bold colours, however it stopped very short of its American cousin, but did retain the name. These were given to children aged from 18 months to 4 years old; they were lighter in weight than the standard civilian-issue masks.
As with all British gasmasks, the filter contains asbestos and so should NOT be used.
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