Post detail
 3291.4 #11 (DL Qual #5
January 7, 2013 8:54 AM

Good morning! This day in Disney history, Jan. 7th, 1942. T.W. Smith, Jr., the owner of the Sun Rubber Company, & his designer Dietrich Rempel introduce a protective Mickey Mouse gas mask for children. It has been one month since the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor & fears of saboteurs & submarines attacks on the U.S. are high. A critical need exists to protect the civilian population, especially children, from gas attacks. The design of the Mickey Mouse Gas Mask is presented to Major General William N. Porter, Chief of the Chemical Warfare Service. Upon approval, Sun Rubber produces sample masks for review. The Mickey Mouse Gas Mask was produced as part of the war production program. The Sun Rubber Company produced approximately 1,000 Mickey Mouse gas masks & earned an Army-Navy ‘E’ for excellence in wartime production in 1944. Overall, production of the Noncombatant Gas Masks (and in fact, all gas masks) was one of the most successful production programs of the war. The masks however were never used and after the war they were distributed to senior officers as keepsakes. Have you seen one of these masks? If yes, Where?

Tagged in: Disney History  Quality Content  
I'd sport that on s&m night. - madsdad  1129.7 #72 9:12AM
And the colors are divine! - MyPark  944.4 #91 9:14AM
And what would the safety word be? - Waites4DodgerEars  659.9 #158 9:19AM
Omg nick! 😳😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 - Duchess_SMK  3291.4 #11 9:21AM
Oh Nick and Wade! Hahahaha 😂😂😂😂😂 dt) X'D x5 - HandMeAChurroImmaFaint  1801.4 #42 9:23AM
How are you single? - DisneyFanZoe  1098.1 #75 9:27AM
Wade. 😂😂😂 - Waites4DodgerEars  659.9 #158 9:29AM
Safety word is "don't wreck it Ralph"! - madsdad  1129.7 #72 9:29AM
😂 Omg. - Waites4DodgerEars  659.9 #158 9:33AM
You dork!😂😂😂 - SueBayou  2012.0 #34 10:36AM
It puts the lotion on its skin... - ScubaSteve028  812.6 #114 11:16AM
Now this is a keeper. - vincentchase  642.1 #169 11:19AM
I like this thread. - MousekaNinja  335.8 #447 11:41AM
Funniest thread EVER! 😂😂😂 - Gia  785.6 #121 11:43AM
hahahahahaha! this thread just made my day! - pinkmonkeys  321.7 #515 12:10PM
Bahahahaha - Jacqueline  546.7 #205 12:50PM
😂😂😂😂😂 - ima-pirateswife  432.4 #289 6:58PM
this is one piece of history I wouldn't like to own. - vincentchase  642.1 #169 10:33AM
You could totally Bane it with this keepsake, though. - Jacqueline  546.7 #205 12:51PM
although this mask would help me in fulfilling Ras Ah Ghuls Destiny..... I think I will reconsider. - vincentchase  642.1 #169 1:38PM
I figured you would want something like this for sure to be a Bane inspired character! - LilSterner  2656.0 #18 4:53PM
Very interesting. Thank you. (I have never seen one of these) - GrumpyPirateDad  502.4 #237 8:58AM
That would be such a great Disney collectable to own. So creepy, yet such a slice of history. America was so paranoid with people building bomb shelters and having air raid siren tests. - ScooterMike  1959.8 #35 9:00AM
Hi Mike,It was fun seeing you yesterday.It is funny that when you drive around Downtown LA and the surrounding neighborhoods you can still spots atomic shelters and old raid sirens still staggered around - pikarich  616.0 #177 9:03AM
Many of the sirens were still tested regularly up to the 1980s. - ScooterMike  1959.8 #35 9:05AM
And, if you're "lucky" enough to live near a nuclear plant, you STILL have siren tests. 8) Gas masks aren't terribly useful for us, though. At least we're only in a protection zone now, instead of our original zone 3 location... - ThatKimberly  335.2 #452 9:45AM
My hometown had designated trick or treat hours on Halloween and use the air raid siren to signal the start and end of the hours. Even as a kid it creeped me out, maybe because it was Halloween, but I'm glad I got to hear what it sounds like - ladylikesdisney  921.5 #95 9:46AM
Extremely valuable today I'm sure! - Duchess_SMK  3291.4 #11 5:15PM
Very interesting. - pikarich  616.0 #177 9:01AM
I'm glad they were taking precautions, but those masks look absolutely terrifying - JRDrummer_CM  792.8 #119 9:02AM
I totally agree! ::shivers:: the tongue being out is especially weird! - Duchess_SMK  3291.4 #11 9:37AM
Imagine seeing one of those coming at you in a dark alley. *shivers* - mini_MINNIE  411.4 #316 9:05AM
Thanks for that mental image! 😩 - Duchess_SMK  3291.4 #11 9:52AM
These are cool.:) - TINO  372.2 #370 9:07AM
Figures you would like them - mini_MINNIE   411.4 #316 9:10AM
They almost look like tattoo :) - TINO  372.2 #370 3:16PM
I gotta say, Dutchess.. This must be your creepiest TDIDH you've posted... OMG!!! It did make me ::giggle:: a little though. Great post and where can I get me one of these!!! Thanks as always... you crazy MWer!! (Good thing we love ya!) - MyPark  944.4 #91 9:11AM
LOL.. I said Dutchess. It's Duchess. I'll go back to SMK - MyPark  944.4 #91 9:19AM
Teehee, didn't mean to scare ya MyPark! But I thought it was interesting! You can see these masks at a few museums, Very few of the Mickey Mouse gas masks survived. The US Army Chemical Museum at Fort McClellan, Alabama, has a hand-made prototype. The 45th Infantry Division Museum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, has a production specimen on permanent display with other gas masks in the combat support area of the museum. The Walt Disney Archives, Burbank, California, has a facepiece without ears, lenses, or a canister. - Duchess_SMK  3291.4 #11 10:00AM
Scared?!? I'm not scared! I didn't say scared. - MyPark  944.4 #91 10:07AM
Ok, creeped out 😂 - Duchess_SMK  3291.4 #11 10:22AM
That's better LOL - MyPark  944.4 #91 10:23AM
Ummmm....no. I'll take my chances being gased. 😬😄 - DisneyFanZoe  1098.1 #75 9:14AM
😂😂😂creepy right?! The soldiers should have worn these! - Duchess_SMK  3291.4 #11 9:17AM
The stuff of nightmares! 😁😂 - DisneyFanZoe  1098.1 #75 9:28AM
Oh my goodness--I don't really know what to say about this. These are a bit creepy, but I find it all very interesting. - Spoonful_O_Sugar  436.3 #285 9:19AM
I so agree, but an important part of Disney history regardless. 😊 - Duchess_SMK  3291.4 #11 10:25AM
You post the best stuff ! I could see that mask in a horror movie ! Lol - snakeinmyboot40  270.4 #821 9:20AM
What a nice thing to say! Glad you enjoy these. And muhahahahaha! I admit a bit scary! Lol - Duchess_SMK  3291.4 #11 5:03PM
Kreepy Kool!!! Thanks!!! - HandMeAChurroImmaFaint  1801.4 #42 9:24AM
hahaha oh my gosh those are great! - Jillian  765.4 #129 9:27AM
I think you may be the only one who thinks so. 😂 I find them facinating though. - Duchess_SMK  3291.4 #11 5:18PM
That's just a bit scary and weird. - mhpoker  261.7 #901 9:34AM
Scurry! - VfxGenie  1353.7 #59 9:35AM
Creepy! - ladylikesdisney  921.5 #95 9:45AM
Just like another mouse we know. 😏 - SueBayou  2012.0 #34 10:53AM
Thanks for this... Umm.. interesting tidbit. - LaPearleNoir  574.0 #192 11:25AM
That made me giggle! sorry my dear! - Duchess_SMK  3291.4 #11 5:04PM
😂😂😂 - LaPearleNoir  574.0 #192 5:20PM
Wonder what one of these would go for... 1000 is a very limited edition these days. - cynDOLEwhip  744.1 #137 11:29AM
I never knew this. Thanks for posting. - polo33  19.3 #5126 11:33AM
Wow this is kinda creppy!! I wonder how much one of these is worth now?? Very cool and creppy info I never knew!! Thanks for the usual QC 😘😘 - CourtyAstroBlisters  440.2 #282 11:33AM
I would really like to have one of these to wake up my family in the middle of the night yelling. Wearing just the mask and a pair of tighty whiteys. See if they ever want to go back to DL - Philliprocks  277.1 #758 12:09PM
They probably would. But you'd stay home. LOL - MyPark  944.4 #91 12:12PM
I need this so I can scare my dog. Bahaha - AshleyLynn22  747.6 #136 12:53PM
******NOooooooooooo:( - MadameLeota  939.5 #93 1:07PM
If love to see one in person! - MetalMermaid  135.9 #2507 1:05PM
This is a little scary IMO - LilSterner  2656.0 #18 4:53PM
This is so creepy! Very interesting though...what a scary time! Thanks as always for the history post!! 😊 - MinnieMousewife  570.4 #194 6:12PM
I'd totally wear this around the parks. - donnievegas  1127.5 #73 6:20PM
Yeah kinda creepy ....but cool in a way !!! I would wear it 🐭 - misskellington  123.8 #2671 6:45PM

        
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