Original item: One Only! Authentic 1917 dated British wooden gas rattle. These are hand cranked wooden cogs (two) that make a very loud distinctive sound when the rattle is rotated since there are two clapper boards tensioned against them.
This simple devise was introduced in WW1 so that in the event of a “Gas Attack” their distinctive noise would alert all in earshot to put on Gas Masks.
This example is complete, has a very pleasing patina. It is marked with the date 1917, a Broad Arrow military acceptance mark and what appears to be the letter “V” or Roman Five stamped into it; perhaps the company to which it was issued. This rattle is an interesting original piece of British WW1 memorabilia.