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Air Raid Precautions: 1939-1945

A list of 48 words by reesetee.

About

From the cigarette card collections of the New York Public Library. More about cigarette cards (also called tobacco cards) here.

This is a list of cigarette cards in a series published by W. A. & A. C. Churchman and issued by the Imperial Tobacco Co. of Great Britain and Ireland, that illustrates steps taken and equipment used to survive air raids.

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  • ruzuzu commented on the list air-raid-precautions-1939-1945

    This is so brilliant and scary.

    March 26, 2014

  • yarb commented on the list air-raid-precautions-1939-1945

    I think rubber clothing is my favourite.

    March 26, 2014

  • ruzuzu commented on the list air-raid-precautions-1939-1945

    Not a heavy anti-gas suit?

    March 26, 2014

  • yarb commented on the list air-raid-precautions-1939-1945

    That's good, but I prefer the sinister vagueness of rubber clothing.

    March 26, 2014

  • ruzuzu commented on the list air-raid-precautions-1939-1945

    I think the scariest one is mobil gas vans (see http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gas_van&oldid=599212552).

    March 26, 2014

  • fbharjo commented on the list air-raid-precautions-1939-1945

    air rid repellent spray - a dry rye not

    March 27, 2014

  • reesetee commented on the list air-raid-precautions-1939-1945

    I wish you all could see the cigarette cards themselves--I think the link I posted long ago is broken, but I'll try to find them again. Rubber clothing indeed. =:-O

    March 31, 2014

  • reesetee commented on the list air-raid-precautions-1939-1945

    Oh, and ru, those aren't the gas vans they're referring to in these cards. They were meant for protection from gas attacks. I found the description written on that particular card (although not the image): "MOBILE GAS VANS. Home Office mobile gas vans, two of which are illustrated, are used for the testing of respirators and for the purpose of training men and women under the conditions of an actual gas attack. The vans are so built that a gas cloud can be put up in the body of the van; the white canopies at the back are airlocks to prevent the escape of the gas when the door of the van itself is opened. The picture shows a group undergoing training at Hendon Police College; the respirator in use is the Service type, which is described on Card No. 31. (No.38)"

    March 31, 2014