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WW1 US Foot Powder 1918


Gildwiller1918

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Here is a nice personal hygiene item for the doughboys, WW1 dated foot powder tin. This tin is 12mm tall, and contains 1/4 pound of powder. This tin is still full of its original contents. To the right is a boxed example to show various methods in packaging. This tin is the most common type encountered, although a earlier round/cylindrical tin was also used. The US military stated the uses for foot powder were to control and prevent ringworm and athlete's feet. However changing socks and keeping feet dry with the addition of powder prevented some possible injuries/infections. The main injury related to feet in WW1 was trench foot, which was mainly caused by soldiers having cold wet feet for long periods of time without being able to dry off or stay warm. Having good hygiene, changing socks, warm conditions and boots were a good way to reduce the risk of trench foot, however that was not always possible in trench warfare. 

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Here is the earlier cylindrical tin mentioned above. This tin is also 1/4 pound, but in a shorted round version. The label reads: 1/4 LB. FOOT POWDER, Per Formula, Par. 800, M.M.D. 1911 Federal Chemical Company - Boston Mass (Massachusetts) Contract, M.S.D.N.Y.  September 12 1917. This tin is also full of its original contents, the tin was opened at the top by rotating the the metal opener and shaking the desired amount out. This type of tin is not seen very often and is rare.

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  • 2 years later...

I bought a small can of foot powder like the one shown above from an estate sell. reads all the same but mine is dated October 2 1916. What would the value on some like this be, not that I am selling it. just curious. Thanks Matthew Magner

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The value depends on condition, if the contents are still inside, dates, still in packaging, etc. It is hard to place a specific value, but average pricing online of the common type tins cans is about $30-50, the cylindrical versions usually are more expensive as they are harder to find, say around $60-80.  

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