Original Item: At the outbreak of WW2 Britain was again sorrowfully unprepared and all types of items were “pressed” into service. One of the best known was the 2 Gallon Petrol Gasoline Can, taken for use as the water can to accompany the Vickers Machine Gun, unlike the quite used “commercial” can that bear petrol company brand names embossed into the sides, these cans were made specifically for the British war department.
All are embossed on the top:
Petroleum Spirit
Highly
Inflammable
We have only a very few and each has embossed markings, and are really quite rare as after the war everybody had a good use for another gas can. Each can is equipped with a heavy brass screw cap and a steel carry handle.
IMA has obtained just a few of these wartime war department contract cans and can offer them as the correct accessory for your WW2 Vickers display.
Very hard to find today these all have new olive drab paint finish just as when issued in WW2.