With the support of Walt Disney, The Sun Rubber Company engaged local Ohio toy designer Dietrich Rempel to design a mask in the shape of Mickey Mouse’s head. Smith, the owner of The Sun Rubber Company, first approached Disney about creating a children’s gas mask using Disney characters. Just imagine how much better the reaction would be to the program you have under consideration.” T.S. As the aforementioned letter went on to point out, “…the use of “Mickey Mouse” has had a soothing effect on the little children in England. (see footnote 2)Ī natural product extension for the company was gas masks, especially for children, and it is clear that there was some correspondence between Disney, Sun Rubber and the War Department on creating an actual Mickey Mouse Gas Mask. The company ceased manufacturing of rubber toys once the U.S. The company made face blanks for high-altitude oxygen masks and respirators, corrugated rubber mask tubing, rubber bellows for testing the fitness of high-altitude oxygen masks, grommets for batteries and flashlight equipment, pipeline gaskets, rubber bonded to metal applications, self-sealing fuel cells for airplanes, and they were already manufacturing gas masks for the military. Army Chemical Corps.The Sun Rubber Company was a manufacturer of consumer goods that focused on educational and recreational toys, office specialties and custom-molded rubber items and surgical goods. (see footnote 1)Ī production version of the Mickey Mouse Gas Mask, courtesy of the U.S. It was part of a discussion of manufacturing gas masks, including ones for children, for distribution to civilians in the United States. Porter, Chief of Chemical Warfare at the War Department in Washington D.C. Smith, the owner and General Manager of The Sun Rubber Company of Ohio, to Major General William N. It looked nothing like Mickey Mouse but as it was explained in a note from the Disney London office: “The name was given to it by Wardens and others who had the job of fitting them on small children, and the name Mickey Mouse was used to alleviate the fears of any these tiny tots who might be frightened at the sight of a gas mask.” The Disney note was relayed by T.S. They also designed a gas mask specifically for children which quickly became known as a “Mickey Mouse” gas mask. The issuing of gas masks to every household in the country was a prudent act by the British government. It looked nothing like Mickey Mouse but was still referred as such to soothe the fear in children. The design uses bright colors along with a floppy nose element that served only as a decorative devise to add character to the mask. The box is intact but very fragile with some light marks/scratches.British Government issued child’s gas mask. TRAFFX06 LEJJX4/11 SCEJX3/13ĬONDITION: 7+ (Very Fine+): The mask is in great shape with some small areas of light wear, mostly around rim of filter. ITEM NOTES: This is from a Great Britain collection which we will be listing more of over the next few months. MK III on base LOT 82 and two stamps under flap on mask WENDY SEWARD ANDERSON written on bottom of box. MATERIALS / CONSTRUCTION: Mask: rubber with metal and plastic lenses, elasticized straps, metal filter box cardboard, cotton laces.ĪTTACHMENT: Mask: head straps with clips box: laces. SIZE: Mask: approximately 9" in height and 5-1/4" in width box: approximately 4-3/4" in height and 4-1/2" in width and 6-1/4" in depth. It is to be returned to the local authority in whose area the possessor may be at any time, either on request or when no longer required." The mask has been stuffed with foam padding for the sake of photography only. Any person who has it in his possession is responsible in law for using care to keep it in good condition. The box reads: "This special respirator for a small child is government property. It is the British version of the American "Mickey Mouse" child's gas mask, although it looks a bit more like Kilroy than any other character.
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