BRITISH WWI TANK SPLATTER MASK.

An absolutely genuine tank splatter mask from WWI, designed to protect the crew of tanks from shrapnel shards. The leather on the exterior is good and undamaged, the suede to the interior also good with slight white paint splashes. The chain mail below the eye protecting section all complete with one attachment ring on the left hand side missing. The original white tape used to secure the mask to the face has probably rotted away and has been replaced with a piece of black elastic, which appears to be at least 40 or 50 years old. These are very desirable artifacts from WWI. Unknown to most people is the fact that the original maker’s name and address is stamped into the metallic eye shield section, which is then covered by the suede on the reverse side and this feature is not found on reproductions. Unfortunately to be able to see the maker’s name and address the stitching has to be opened, the only reason we know this is that we at one time had a mask where the stitching had rotted on the edge of the mask as we were able to view the maker’s name on the inside.

Code: 91684