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WWII 1943 U.S. Navy Artek-Pascoe Military Packboard w/ M-343-A Auxiliary Fuel Tank
Offered is an exceptionally unusual and apparently scarce WWII U.S. military packboard and auxiliary fuel-tank assembly, retaining extensive original wartime markings, hardware, canvas suspension system, straps, fuel valve and hose.
The laminated-plywood packboard is clearly manufacturer marked:
ARTEK-PASCOE, INC.
CONTRACT NO. W-12-036-QM-1183
O.I. NO. 2991-4-X-C
DATE – OCT. 28, 1943
Artek-Pascoe was a specialist in formed and laminated plywood and was among the manufacturers producing military packboards and related equipment during World War II. The October 28, 1943 date places this example firmly within wartime production.
Of particular significance, this is not merely a generic WWII packboard later combined with a fuel container. The packboard itself retains a clearly visible period “U.S. NAVY FOR X…” stencil beneath the embossed U.S. marking. The final character(s) are faded and are shown clearly in the photographs for the buyer's own evaluation.
Mounted to the packboard is the military auxiliary gasoline tank, which retains its own original stencil:
TANK M-343-A
U.S. NAVY FOR X3 (faded; please examine photographs)
AUXILIARY FUEL TANK
M-343-A
and an original order number.
The M-343-A is a documented WWII auxiliary gasoline tank. War Department technical documentation identifies Tank M-343-A as the auxiliary fuel supply used with Power Unit PE-214-A, a portable 300-watt, 120/240-volt, 60-cycle gasoline generator associated with military field communications equipment.
The auxiliary tank provided extended generator operation, feeding fuel through a hose and valve system rather than functioning simply as a portable gasoline can. Documentation for the PE-214-A system indicates approximately 2½ hours of operation on the generator's normal fuel supply and approximately 7½ hours when using the auxiliary tank.
Research has also established that the U.S. Navy employed portable gasoline-powered generating equipment with its wartime TBX portable radio systems. Navy documentation identifies the EF-8 auxiliary generator for the TBX series, and a 1944 Navy equipment catalog describes the EF-8 specifically as being “For use with TBX series.” TBX equipment was designed for portable field deployment, including use by Navy and Marine Corps communications personnel.
An independent military-radio collector has also reported possessing the same type of packboard and associates his example with an EF-8/X-8 generator for the TBX radio system. That information is included as supporting collector research only; it is not being represented as definitive proof that this particular assembly was issued with a specific TBX radio set.
What makes this example particularly compelling is the surviving physical evidence. Both the 1943 Artek-Pascoe packboard and M-343-A auxiliary fuel tank carry U.S. Navy markings, and the tank remains mounted with its period securing strap, wooden mounting blocks, valve, fittings and long fuel hose. The rear retains the canvas back suspension, shoulder straps, webbing, metal hardware, grommets and original cord lacing.
The assembly remains in untouched military condition with expected age, wear, scratches, fading, oxidation, staining and deterioration to some textile/cord components consistent with an approximately 83-year-old piece of field equipment. The fuel hose is present but has aged and should be considered display-only. The tank has not been pressure tested or tested for fuel use and is being sold strictly as a historical collectible/display piece.
This is an unusually complete WWII military fuel-support assembly with an excellent combination of identifiable components and surviving markings:
• Artek-Pascoe manufacture
• October 28, 1943 production date
• W-12-036-QM-1183 contract marking
• Original U.S. Navy stencil on packboard
• M-343-A auxiliary fuel tank
• Separate U.S. Navy marking on tank
• Original valve, fittings and fuel hose
• Tank securing hardware and mounting blocks
• Canvas back suspension and shoulder straps
• Original cord lacing and packboard hardware
An outstanding and highly unusual piece for an advanced WWII U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Signal Corps, military communications, field-radio, generator-equipment or packboard collection.
Please examine all photographs carefully, as the original markings and surviving components are an important part of the description and provenance of this assembly.
PLEASE LOOK CAREFULLY AT THE PICTURES AS THEY ARE PART OF THE DESCRIPTION. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS AND I WILL ANSWER THEM TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES. I WILL MAIL YOUR PURCHASED ITEM WITH IN 24 HOURS OF PAYMENT. A TRACKING NUMBER WILL BE SUPPLIED. IF THE NUMBER HAS BEEN ENTERED, IT IS IN THE ACTUAL POSSESSION OF THE POST OFFICE. PLEASE TRY AND KEEP IN MIND, AFTER IT HAS ENTERED THE MAIL SYSTEM, I HAVE NO CONTROL OF ITS DELIVERY TIME.
A SIGNATURE WILL BE REQUIRED FROM BUYER UPON DELIVERY.
