WW2 US Canteen - Black Porcelain Enamel

[Gildwiller1918]

In early 1942, the US was rapidly trying to mobilize and equip its forces for the conflict it was now in. Initially a lot of raw materials were were needed elsewhere, and the production of standard issue canteens which were made from aluminum was halted as aluminum was needed for other uses, such as aircraft production. So to make up for this the US began to make canteens from low grade metals and covered them with a porcelain enamel coating. The M1942 canteen was born, however it was short lived, by the end of the year, it was removed from production as raw materials became more accessible. 

In field use, there were a lot of complaints, such as the enamel/porcelain coating chipping off and debris getting into the canteen's interior. The black coating would take on a battered look from all the chips, and was quickly removed from service. This canteen also had a black coated canteen cup the canteen sat in while in the carrier, this also had problems with chipping. While the canteen is still available, the cup is much harder to find. Below is a example from my collection. Over 5 million canteens were made in 1942 from the following manufacturers: 

Bellaire Enameling Co. (B.E.Co.) - also cup M1942
Fletcher Enameling Co. (F.E. Co.) - also canteen M1910
Geuder, Paeschke & Fray (apparently unmarked) 
Republic Stamping and Enameling Co. (REP or R.E.P.Co.) - also canteen M1910
Strong Manufacturing Co. (S.M. Co.) - also cup M1942
U.S. Stamping and Enameling Co. (U.S.S.Co.) - also canteen M1910
Vollrath Co. (VOLLRATH) - the standard aluminum cap was assembled to early Vollrath canteens that damaged the enameling on the threads, and the plastic cap was assembled when it became available.
Landers, Frary & Clark (samples only)