WW2 55 gallon drum color

dr deuce · Post by **dr deuce** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 5:39 pm

Does anyone know what color they were? I seem to recall seeing ones that were darker colored, more like M-series.

What would be stencilled on them?

"Oil, SAE 30"

"Part Number: 123456"

Making a display and received the 1st drum. Winter is a great time to cut stencils!

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 5:52 pm

Well I have an early WW2 55 gallon drum marked US Army Air Corps etc and that has never been painted,it's galvanized finish.I have seen colour WW2 photos of them painted black.

Hope this helps,

Matt.

joel gopan · Post by **joel gopan** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 8:00 pm

Check with the ARs being offered by Portrayal Press on marking of WWII Equipment. The Paint used would be the lusterless OD paint used in WWII in the grades that would have no rust inhibiters nor would there be primer called for, as the Drums were expendable. Color would be comparable to 319 Lusterless, and in some instances SG was used. Availability of correct paint would be a factor,and substitutes of better paints were likely used as they had to keep up the flow of supplies. I have WWII Paint Cans and lubricants that have same color as the little WWII cans of PLS, Bore Cleaner, and Foot Powder you see at flea markets I have the manuals for painting Ammo Boxes, trucks, Ammunition, etc but they are Mis placed and I would not know where to start. I have over 1000 WWII and Korean manuals on trucks, tanks, and U name it. The Library is private and low on my priority of keeping sorted. Find a WWII can of Foot Powder, and you will see that it is the same shade as Army Jeep Parts WWII Green (2430). I have a quart can of 1950/51 Amoco OE-30 with yellow markings and it is the same as the surplus drums of oil from the 40s.
Joel

mick.wilson · Post by **mick.wilson** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 6:26 pm

We just painted them the same as the trucks.

Mick

armydriver · Post by **armydriver** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 10:59 am

OD lusterless green with normal white markings. I have one that was salvaged from my grandfathers barn that also has Humble Oil Company, Houston with a 1943 contract number on it. It was a drum of cosmoline that my grandfather bought at auction at the Red River Arsenel after the war and they used at grease on his farm.

joel gopan · Post by **joel gopan** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 1:44 pm

Thanks for the input AD

armydriver · Post by **armydriver** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 4:45 am

You are quite welcomed Joel. Information is the tool to education and the more information we share on this site the more we know. It is nice to be recognized by ones peers as providing pertanant information for others to use.