The History Of The Gas Mask
BY: P L
Info On Filters
Filters come in many different
shapes and sizes but they all
use the same concepts and
principles. Most gas masks
are made mostly up of
charcoal and a little other bit
of filtering chemicals. These
other filtering chemicals
neutralize the bad chemicals
or bacteria in the air. Some
gas masks also have a piece of
fine woven felt in it to catch
the large nuclear, biological,
and chemical (NBC) particles
in the air.
P-M on Filters
•
Positive: now a day there
is something else which is
a lot safer. It’s called
chromium VI which is
also known as a
carcinogen which is
harmless when solid but
when damaged or over the
age of 8 years old should
be disposed of as if it was
hazardous material.
• Minus: until about 50
years ago there was
something called
asbestos which was in
the mask. It causes bad
respiratory problems
and is not used any
more. It is replaced
with something else
less harmful.
The Inventors 1/2
• Leonardo Da Vinci: thought about making a mask
made out of wet cloth, and in 1849 an man by the
name of Lewis P. Haslett went off of Leonardo’s
idea and made a lung-protector made out of wet
wool.
• Other people: in the 1600’s tried to make a mask
to protect from plagues and viruses. They used
herbs and spices for it. John Stenhouse’s used
charcoal as the filter and George Crofutt’s rubber
eye and lung protector and William Moran made a
mask out of asbestos for firemen.
The Inventors 2/2
• Garret A. Morgan: he
created the “Morgan
safety hood and smoke
protector” was patented in
1912 and was mostly for
fireman and engineering
work where hazardous
gases are present; but was
not meant in any way for
war events.
The Gas Masks of 1917-1930
• 1917’s-1930: during this
period gas masks took a leap
of faith and were used in the
military. All the masks at that
time were big, heavy and had
very inefficient filtering. You
had almost zero sight in this
mask. The filters lasted less
than an hour each.
• In this picture is a1919 mask
which looks very tight. This
mask used by the U.S. Navy.
Gas Masks of 1939-1948
• 1939-1948: gas masks were
starting to show their
advantages. Demand was
rising and the quality of the
masks decreasing. There were
varieties of masks, but most
failed. The masks were heavy
and bulky by today‘s
standards. They developed
better glass, but it dirtied
easily. The masks were poorly
made and expensive.
Gas Masks of 1951-1968
• 1951-1968: these gas masks were
similar to today's except they
were not as comfortable, and the
filter was dangerous. The lenses
were clear and were rain proof.
The masks were well made and
were still very popular. The
military was now putting filters
on the side of the mask by your
cheek and was attached directly.
The mask’s design progressed and
they could now drink from a
concealed straw.
The Gas Masks of 1980-1990
• 1980-1990:these masks
were almost like ours today
except for the technology
and comfort. They had the
same filter and lens as today.
They were still a small
burden but not as much as
the 1950’s masks. As you
can tell by the picture the
mask design has progressed
and is doing well.
The Gas Masks of 1991-2002
• 1991-2002:these masks are
the ones we use today in the
field and are very little
burden and are light. These
masks are good looking and
have Plexiglas lenses that
are shatter proof and don’t
dirty easily. You can tell by
the picture that this is the
most advanced mask.
Other Gas Masks!
The horse mask
• Horse mask: the US in
WWI created the mask. It
consisted of a muzzle
piece connected to two
filters.
• Armored car mask:was a
light mask that had a small
filter and the option to
hook up to an oxygen
tank.
• Air flight masks:were for
dropping the NBC
weapons and doing low
scouting missions.
The Related Vocabulary Words
• Innovators- innovators are people who create new
ideas and products just like Garret A. Morgan
when he created the “Morgan safety hood and
smoke protector”.
• Labor- labor is the act of people who are working
in a factory or something that requires physical or
mental work. The people that made the masks
were working in a factory to do it.
• Great war- the great war was WWI and the gas
masks were worn and made during WWI and
therefore is related to the great war.
How Its Related to History
• Since WWI, the gas mask
has been use to protect
people from deadly
nuclear, biological, and
chemical warfare. It has
saved the lives of many.
They have allowed us to
win anything from wars to
fires, and have allowed us
to do remarkable things
over the years. The gas
mask was used in WWI,
WWII, Vietnam, Korea,
desert storm and beyond.
What Do I Want to Teach You
• I want to teach that over the past century’s NBC
has been made and has killed many and no matter
how hard we try to protect ourselves we will
always suffer in the aftermath. I propose that the
US stop all countries that produce weapons of
mass destruction and rid them of them. If they
don’t cooperate we should force them until they
do. Nobody wants, or should have to die for
something they have no say or part in. Gas masks
are the way we protect ourselves, and if other
countries want a fight,they should fight with wits
and skill not mass killing.
1. What does NBC stand for (its not the T.V station)?
2. Until about 50 years ago what filtering agent in
gas masks was harmful?
3. Name 2 wars big events in history that the gas
mask was involved in?
Answers:
The Group
Above:A group of soldiers from WWI wearing a variety of masks.
The Sites!
• www.nofuture.com
This site is were I
got most of my info
for this project and
most of my pictures.
This slide is informational! Just click on a pic!