WWII \"RUTENBER 1943\" Canteen M1942 RARE Maker EXC+++ For Sale

WWIIM1942 Canteen

RARE MAKER!!

RUTENBER ELECTRIC CO. 1943

Logansport, Indiana

EXC+++

USMC,Army

Thismid-war Corrosion Resistant Steel (CRS) -- stainless steel --M1942Canteenwiththe center-weld seam is from aRARELYSEENcontractor. It is in excellent \"Combat Serviceable\" condition!

RUTENBERELECTRIC CO.waslet a single contract (for one year only,1943!)for contrast with the tens of millions of canteens of various models,produced in vast number by makers such asVOLLRATH,etc.

By the 1940s RUTENBERELECTRICwas manufacturing electric ranges, stoves, Irons, toasters, grills,radiators, and ovens. Their motto was\"Ifits heated with Electricity We Make it.\"

Duringthe Second World War,RUTENBERalsomanufactured lockers, tent hoods, stovepipe hoods, and tent shieldsfor the armed forces.

+The Canteen is crisply stamped on the bottom:

U.S.

RUTENBERELECTRIC CO.

1943

+This example was produced contemporaneously with the Marine Corps\'bitter fighting in the Southern Solomon Islands (Guadalcanal andfollowing), the Army\'s campaigns in North Africa (Tunisia), theMediterranean Theater (Sicily and Italy) and the Army’s slog up NewGuinea!

+ZEROscratches or corrosion to theBodyofthe Canteen. TheONLY\"damage\" is one dent on the rear of the right shoulder of the Canteen body.

+ZEROscratches,cracks or \'erosion\' to the period-correct, rugged recessedChainPost.Inraised molded letters on the underside of the Cap,

Inone circle:

U.S.

1943

------

Andbeneath that to the right of center of the Cap, a mold number:

28

Andin a second circle:

KELLER

BRASS

CO.

GRD.RAPIDS

+ZERObentlinks to the bare steelChain, but mild, superficial corrosion consonant with field use.

+ An original Mint ChippedCorkGasketispresent.

*****

TheRutenberMotor Company

The Rutenber Motor Company wasestablished as theRutenberManufacturing CompanyinChicago, Illinois,to manufacture a four-cylinder engine to thedesign ofEdwin Rutenber.

Rutenberstudied the trade of mechanics and, about 1892, built asingle-cylinder engine. By1898, he produced the first four-cylinder engine to be manufacturedin the United States.Asix-horsepower, single-cylinder engine was used by Frank Eckhart inhis 1900 prototype car that was the seed for theAuburnwhichusedRutenberenginesuntil about 1923.

In1902, Rutenber relocated his company, renamed theWesternMotor Company,to Logansport, Indiana.There, the company designed andmanufactured 4- and 6-cylinder enginesfor the emergingautomobile and truck industry. Rutenber himself briefly entered theauto business, creating theRutenberautoand producing as few as 10 automobiles. One of those was known tohave been designed forC.W. Swiftofthe famous Chicago meat packing house. He quickly exited the businessto focus on engines. By 1907 the company employed three to fourhundred men and shipped engines all over the United States.

Rutenberengineswere used from 1905 in theStoddard-Daytonautomobiles,which became well known for their speed and power, winningtheIndianapolisRacein1909. In 1905, theMoonmadeits debut in Detroit with a 35hp four-cylinder engine. In 1913,theMoonwasequipped with a six-cylinderRutenberengine.In 1907, a 60hpRutenberenginepowered theMeteorthatwent from Chicago to St. Louis (400 miles (640km)) in 23hours.Rutenberengineswere also used in a long list of early automobiles: American,Burg,Glide, Hallady, Jewel, Lexington, Luverne, Nyberg,Roamer,andWestcottandwere exported for use in theAustralianSix.They were also found in marine applications, and many were used to powercarnivalcarousels.

In1912, Edwin Rutenber sold his interest in the company and the rightsto the name and severed further connection to it. The company wasrenamedTheRutenber Motor Company.Edwin Rutenber then turned his attention to the manufacture ofelectric appliances, establishingTheRutenber Electric Co. \"RECO\",to exploit the rapid electrification of the nation.

InDecember 1926, A. C. Barley, President ofRoamerMotor Car Company,boughtRutenberMotor Companyandits Logansport, Indiana plant. A. C. Barley had been an officeratRutenberyearsearlier and the Barley family had been large shareholders in thecompany. It is thought the company closed around 1933.

In1973, a Rutenber descendant donated aRutenberengineto the Smithsonian Institution.

*****

KEELER BRASS COMPANY

Grand Rapids, Michigan

In 1893 aluxury hardware manufacturer,Belwith-Keelerthen known as the KeelerBrass Company, was asmall factory in Middleville, Michigan. Within decades, it became thebiggest employer in the Grand Rapids area. In addition to itshand-cast hardware, the company created hood ornaments for cars likethe Ford F-100 andthe first Model TChrysler, and during WWI andWWII it produced machine gunclips and tank treads, canteencaps —making whatever itcould to stay in business during the height of the DepressionEra and the Second WorldWar