Is this old?

[Migmac]

The stickers are ,I think, to allow you to fill it at a petrol station. We had to put similar on ours

 

[Shox Dr]

I have two WD cans from the early 40's inherited from my dad - I still use both as neither leak.
I have two from the 80's . . . both leak . .

i have a few of the Pratts/Shell/Esso soldered cans with the brass screw caps (far left on the can history piccie), also from my dad, that are still perfectly useable, other than I don't have a spout and have to rummage for a funnel.

Didn’t know you can get a spout. I’ll have to get one now.

This was my Grandads, my dad used it for the last 45yrs, now Mine, full of Premium for the bikes

 

[500e]

Father was an AID inspector working out of the Reading office He was the designated inspector for Metal Box (not his favourite Co) amongst other things they made incendiary bomb boxes.
He also spent time with AV Roe, the air sea rescue boat engine development then the Napier Lion engines

 

[Ped]

Do Not Cut It Up.

War department, made and received into service in 1943.
Any other marks?

If any other marks, please post.

The rivet tag would indicate that it was used for other than fuel for transport.
The yellow tag is later.
MOD time.

What is the filler cap seal?

looks like rubber. I can’t see any other marks other than BMB on the side. Nothing on the bottom. Smells like it’s had diesel in it.

 

[Migmac]

Didn’t know you can get a spout. I’ll have to get one now.

This was my Grandads, my dad used it for the last 45yrs, now Mine, full of Premium for the bikes
View attachment 247358

I might be able to help with the spouts. I think they are the same ones as used on the old metal fuel cans for chainsaws. I’m sure I have a couple in my shed somewhere. Will have a look in the next day or three!

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

It is rubber.
22-5-84.

Good guess it was taken from storage/war stock and tested and inspected. That I guess is the date it was brought back into service to carry petroleum based fuels.

Can I see the base?

If it is level then it was air tested.
If it is blown out, or show signs of being dished it was tested with water pressure.

Is your sticker metal or sticky plastic?

Metal clip on or fold tags were often used when items were brought from stores and Given to the TA etc. It would allow them to fill at a civvy garage. Or at an MOD depo with out the forms.

 

[brightspark]

Really? My dad who fought in WW2 said it was because they were copied from the German (Jerry) fuel tins.

that's what dad told me the krauts all used them

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

that's what dad told me the krauts all used them

Our fuel cans leaked, caused many a fire and loss of transport and equipment.
When we over ran their German Fuel dumps we found their fuel cans were a lot better than ours. Plus could be used to transport other liquids than fuels.

Our copies had round spouts, but that was found to be next to useless. So we took on the original design.

The British flimsy as they got called were quickly transferred to the RN, for the fats patrol boats. The RN could refill, top up tanks. Punch holes into the cans and let them sink.

Of some ports we would dump lots tied together, to a mine hunter, they were sometimes confused for sea mines.
Much fun.

 

[Ped]

It is rubber.
22-5-84.

Good guess it was taken from storage/war stock and tested and inspected. That I guess is the date it was brought back into service to carry petroleum based fuels.

Can I see the base?

If it is level then it was air tested.
If it is blown out, or show signs of being dished it was tested with water pressure.

Is your sticker metal or sticky plastic?

Metal clip on or fold tags were often used when items were brought from stores and Given to the TA etc. It would allow them to fill at a civvy garage. Or at an MOD depo with out the forms.

Great info! I’m guessing air tested then. The tags are metal. What does the green B, red BS and BN mean?

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I bought a brand new jerry can in 1990 - and it's stamped with that year so would put money on it being a genuine 1943.

 

[Hitch]

I sold one last year, that was a War Dept one, in good condition, think i managed to scrape £15 for it.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

View attachment 247365

[/QUOTE]
Haven't see that sort of clip on the handle before

 

[awemawson]

Spouts and replacement seals certainly were available on eBay relatively recently. I keep three Jerry Cans in use, White Diesel, Red Diesel, and Petrol and replaced the seals perhaps a year ago. There are two versions of the spout one of which doesn’t have the breather and is pretty useless.

 

[awemawson]

Spouts and replacement seals certainly were available on eBay relatively recently. I keep three Jerry Cans in use, White Diesel, Red Diesel, and Petrol and replaced the seals perhaps a year ago. There are two versions of the spout one of which doesn’t have the breather and is pretty useless.

And I've just checked and they ARE still available

 

[brightspark]

just thought on I have 5 galls of diesel in one. got it filled when all this covid crap kicked off just ran out of my other that was full of petrol for the lawnmower

 

[bricol]

Jerry can spouts are out there all over the place - not all the breather ones will fit 40's era ones properly though - the breather tubes are different sized and don't fit together properly

Spouts/funnels for the Pratts smaller screw top cans aren't exactly common.

 

[Arc Tourist]

American screw cap,

Yeah, the screw cap ones were for fuel, and the lever cap ones were for water. I had one of each in the rack I made for my Willys Jeep.
.

 

[MBB]

I had a Russian one it was in the back of a second hand Moscovich I bought in 1970. The metal seemed to be a lot thicker than other ones I had owned.

 

[moose]

I have been out for a while but someone mentioned plastic jerry cans, if this is the black or green they were for water, never fuel. Fuel was only ever put in the metal cans.

 

[awemawson]

Convention we used in the CCF was water ones had the square pressing in the sides painted white