Recycled Radio: Cotton Traders AM/FM Dynamo

Recycled Radio: Cotton Traders AM/FM Wind up Radio

It looks OK from this distance

Manufacturer: anyone's guess? Chinese?
Model: M36Y9
Power: Dynamo or 2 x AA batteries
Made for: Cotton Traders Ltd
Approx Age: No idea?
Sold as: Used
Condition: Like new
Vendor: private eBay seller
Price: £4.95 + £1.95 postage
Shipped From; UK

Not the best design when it comes to switches

First impressions
Recently i have developed a taste for free energy radios.
The ones you have to put some effort in to get anything out.
Handcranking if you pardon the expression
Having already owned a clockwork freeplay and two dynamo freeplays i thought i would bag a few rip off designs.
One of the first to land my way was this thing...

Nice flashlight - Poor fitting outer casings

And to be fair it looked OK from a distance. But then it all goes horribly wrong!


Fact* Cotton Traders radio comes home...
An interesting thing about this radio is that it was made/commissioned by Cotton Traders Ltd, a local Manchester company who normally manufacturer high quality sports and casual wear. I have no idea why they branched out into crappy radios but this monstrocity should not be used as a measure of this companies normal merchandise. I have bought their rugby shirts in the past and found them to be the highest quality.
So the Manchester radio comes home - via Hong Kong or somewhere

 The least said about the tuning and volume dials the better

Good Points

• Nice Colour?
• Compact
• Good AM reception

In all honesty there is very little to say about this radios good points. There just isn't any really.
I like the silver colour and i like that it's quite small and light.
AM reception is actually quite good if you like listening to AM (which i don't) the internal ferrite antenna rod must be of reasonable quality if nothing else.

 Runs on AA batteries too....I wouldn't bother though

Bad Points

• Poor FM reception
• Poor quality plastic cases
• Poorly designed switch layout
• Weak and flimsy handle
• Hard to accurately tune in to anything
• Antenna is useless
• Lumpy dial operation
• Weak internal rechargable battery
• Poor flashlight

The list of bad points speaks for itself.
I could go into detail on every single point raised in the list above but i really cant be arsed. The radio isn't worth the effort. However a couple of things need a mention.

The bloody awful switch layout on the front of the unit leaves you scratching your head in bewilderment.
What ever possessed​ the designer to put the function switches in a recess where you can't get at them properly?
Changing settings can be a fiddly pain in the arse especially for those who have big hands. It wouldn't be such a problem if you only had to use the switches occasionally but unfortunately the on/off switch is located here so there can be no avoiding it.
It's a poorly designed feature.

The FM receiver built into this radio is a pile of dung.
Flicking through the local stations is a journey into Barron white noise with the occasional station breaking through. Only the powerful national stations stand much chance.
At first i thought the antenna had becoming disconnected inside the radio and was no connected but this was not the case.
Pretty useless really

The quality and accuracy of the tuning and volume dials are next under scrutiny.
Once again we find the same cheapo plastic at work.
Tuning the radio is not a pleasant experience. Moving the needle up and down the frequency scale feels lumpy rather than smooth and fine tuning is a lost cause.
Volume is approximate and can't be tamed properly.
Cost cutting here makes for cheap feel.

The cranking handle is a flimsy piece of crap

Above everything else the worst part of this radio has to be the awful cheapo winding handle.
One would expect this crucial part of the radio to be strong, sturdy and (with any luck) longlasting.
The handle used to generate the juice here is bendy, loose and runs unevenly when cranking. Not likely to last the month, nevermind a few years before it snaps​ off in your hand.
It's made from recycled yogurt pots by the looks of things. Very cheap, very flimsy.
Funny how the weakest point of the radio happens to be the most important in this case. Terrible.


👍👍
On the whole a rather disappointing radio when all said.
Like so many others it tries to mimic the free play dynamo radios and makes a pretty crap job of it.
FM reception is dreadful and although AM is a much better prospect, it wasn't the band i bought the radio to listen to.
The build quality is nothing short of shoddy and doesn't look as if it could stand up to a light breeze let alone an accidental drop.
I wish I hadn't bothered.

Recycled Radio: Wouxun KG-UVD1P Dual bander

Recycled Radio: Wouxun KG-UVD1P Dual Bander Transciever

The Original Wouxun dual bander

Manufacturer: Wouxun
Model: KG-UVD1P
Country of origin: China
Description: Dual Band FM Transceiver
Sold As: Used
Approx Age: looks new 2016
Condition: Very good.Missing original antenna + box
Price: £27 including shipping      RRP £79.99 still available
Vendor: private seller on eBay
Shipped from: UK

"International Version"?

First impressions
As well as buying new radios i also buy non-working or used radios all the time.
This time my recycled Radio is an absolute classic!. Yes, the original Wouxun dual bander radio, the KG-UVD1P.

 Plenty going on up top

The KG-UVD1P is not a new design. It actually started appearing around the end of 2010 so it won't be a stranger to everyone. It was regarded as one of the first radios to challenge the likes of Yeasu, Kenwood and Icom in offering all of the functionality but only costing a fraction of the price - Ultimately leaving the door open for budget brands such as Baofeng and Retevis to steam in behind.

Past reviews seem to be very favorable towards the Wux.  Often regarded as the best budget radio (at the time) due to the solid build quality and abundance of features.
I was intreged to find out if any of my radio friends had ever had any experience with the KG-UVD1P in the past.
With the exception of one (Ringway Manchester 😁) everyone I spoke to spoke highly of it. Infact two radio operators still have their Wouxun radios from years ago and refuse to part with them.
One guy said he had conducted a test with the KG-UVD1P and a Yeasu FD60 a few years ago and found that the Wouxun was better in his opinion. The Yeasu was probably twice the price too.
I was quite looking forward to using the radio after hearing that.

This radio came to me as second hand but in reality looked brand new.
It was missing its original box, manual, lanyard and earpiece (who cares about the crappy earpieces anyway) admittedly,  the radio itself was brand new looking and still had the protective plastic film across the screen.
I'm not really bothered about the piffling extras as they don't seem to add any value to the experience.
I was more than happy with what i recieved. The Wouxun still sells for around £80 so getting it for this price was a bargain.

The stock antenna is OK

Good Points

• Well made
• Splash proof IP55 rated
• Quick dual mode toggle
• Good receiving capabilities
• Programmable FM stations
• Rotary dial/selector
• Good PTT button
• Not as prone to 'Inter-Mod' as other cheap radios

One thing that immediately took my notice was the build quality of this radio. The casings are made from a tough ABS plastic and seemingly on par with its more expensive rivals. For a cheap radio it's hard to complain. Sure, some of the cheapo Baofengs are pretty well made but this Wouxun seems heavier and more robust somehow. Apparently this unit is IP55 rated so it should be impervious to a bit of dirt and water. This extra protection explains why the buttons on this radio are more heavy duty feeling. The front keypad is made up of little semi hard buttons which click positively when pressed. I don't imagine much water or dirt could get past those very easily.

 Original replacement batteries are hard to find

After a few days of owning this radio i thought i might keep it rather than selling it on as i normally might.
The next sensible thing to do would be to buy a spare battery.
I normally have at least two or three spare batteries for each of my radios so i was hoping to snag one or two for a few quid.
It's turns out that spare batteries are near impossible to find in the UK. And I'm talking non-original copied batteries here. If I had wanted an original Wouxun battery (like the one i got with the radio)  then i would end up more disappointed. They simple don't exist? or so it would seem.
So left with few choices I opted to buy a replacement battery from the only UK eBay seller to have them charging me £17.99 for the privilege. Scandalous! 🎃
I could have taken the other route and bought one from the Philippines for £8 - it's a long way to send it back if it turns out to be crap and i would have to wait ages for it arrive from the far east.


Bad Points

• Tinny sounding speaker
• Backlight stays on when scanning
• Battery meter is crap
• Battery doesn't last that long
• Signal meter is vague

 Wouxun are keen on anti-counterfeiting

The recieve sound quality is clear but lacking in bass. Especially when compared to more contemporary models such as the Baofeng GT3 and UV-82 radios which cost much less.
In situations with a noisy background it's sometimes hard to make out what's coming through the speaker.

The sensitivity of the reciever is very good with the only downside coming from the poor digital squelch system.

The usual button configuration

Battery life is quite lame in comparison to other similar style radios. Even with battery save enabled and the back light switched off the battery has a struggle to last the whole day with the minimal of use. One suspects that the claimed battery capacity of 1400mAh is a crock of crap. 

The extra battery i bought wasn't much better either. It claims to be 1700mAh but in reality lasts as long as the original. Crap.

A solid little radio

Overall it's a solid little radio. The design is getting a little long in the tooth now but it's a good radio to own if you can get one cheap. 

👍👍👍👍

Israeli model 4 Gas Mask

Isreali​ No 4 Gas Mask

Manufacturer: Shalon Chemical Industries, Tel Aviv.
Under License From: Drager, Lübeck, Germany
Model: No 4.  (Based on the Drager simplex gas mask.)
Filter: 40mm NATO filter
Country: Isreal
Year: 1969?
Condition: Used - good condition
Price: £9.99 + £2.95 shipping
Vendor: private eBay seller
Shipped from: UK

First impressions
The Isreali made No. 4 gas mask has been on my hit list of collectables for a long time now. Despite there being millions of the damn things floating around the global ebay not many appear to float near UK shores.
The last time i saw one of these it was over £25 + £20 shipping from the US. I'm not paying that kind of money for a mask which is equivalent to the Russian GP-5 in terms of the vast numbers produced.

I wasn't expecting to find another on UK eBay anytime soon but thankfully this specimen came around.
I ended up winning the mask for £9.99 + 2.95 shipping which seemed a good enough deal to me.

Features a strange white coloured valve protector

The package duely arrived to much anticipation.
Inside was the original cardboard box full of Hebrew text and looking a little tatty around the edges.

Inside was the mask with the filter tucked neatly inside. The filter actually sits inside a white frame. This allows for it to be stored inside the mask without the metal parts rubbing and scratching against the plexiglass eye pieces. A clever little space saving idea if i do say so.
Also tucked inside the bottom of the box was a set of Hebrew instructions.

A nicely made mask

A little bit about the Isreali No4
Isreal is one of those places on earth which has been under the constant threat of attack for decades. This potential threat has come mainly from the Arab militants of hesbola but during the first gulf war the upgraded 4A1 was distributed in vast numbers against the threat from Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq.

Recently the isrealis have been stockpiling these masks in the event that the Assad regime in Syria decide to attack. Tensions are high in the middle East with Isreal seemingly in the middle of things.

The later version called the 4A1 features an upgraded valve system and added drinking straw. These later models seem to be easier to obtain.




The face piece

The No 4 mask is very well made. The rubber is thick and hard-wearing, similar to the rubber used in other Drager masks.
Assuming this mask is from 1968 the integrity of the rubber is like new considering it's age.
There are no signs of cracking or perishing around the edges as you might expect.
The fundamental elements of the mask are in excellent working order with the exception of the left eye piece which has a strange bubbling texture in the corner. As the eye pieces are made from plexiglass i suspect the defect is caused by a reaction with the plastic.

Medium size and the Shalon company logo

The Filter

Interesting filter holder

When i first saw this strange white plastic frame thing i thought it was a mask former. Included in the kit to help the mask keep its shape when not in use. This could still be the case but it seems the main purpose of the plastic frame is to hold the filter in place during storage and transportation. With the filter sat within the frame it can easily be stored inside the mask saving valuable space in the cardboard box.

The Drager manufactured Zivilschutzfilter 68 filter

The filter supplied here is an old Drager made 40mm can which was still new and sealed. The true age of this filter is unknown but there is a good chance it was made in 1969. The more recent A41 masks are supplied with small grey coloured filters.

I have not idea if this filter contains Asbestos or not? If its as old as 1969 it could very well have but I'm not taking any chances. (not as though i plan on using it often) 

Instructions in Hebrew only

Lurking at the bottom of the box was this instruction pamphlet. It is very well detailed with some great illustrations but unfortunately i don't speak Hebrew. I'm hoping the internet may turn up an English translation but nothing so far.

Overall I'm quite impressed with this mask. It's well constructed and looks the part too.
In comparison with other similar style masks this one is up there with the best.  Getting the mask on and off is really easy and pain free. No nasty scalp and hair grabbing here. I can imagine this mask would be very comfortable to wear over a long period of time.
It's really hard not to like it!


Rating: ✅✅✅✅4 out of 5
The only problem with this mask is the tatty cardboard box. The mask itself is really well made and looks like it could last for a long tim. Drager are reknown for their quality masks and this example is no exception.

Swedish Type​ 32 Gas Mask

Swedish Typ 32 Folkgasmask

Manufacturer: Gullmaren Preserving Co AB, Lysekil, Sweden
Model: Typ 32 Folkgasmask (Sats GSK I C 32)
Country: Sweden
Year: 1955
Size: 3 (small adult)
Condition: As new in sealed tin and inner bag. Perfect.
Vendor: Seller SFrankish on eBay
Price: £12.99 + £3.40 shipping
Shipped from: UK

Looking good for a 62 year old!

First impressions
I was late night eBay surfing looking for something a little different when up pops this interesting looking Swedish mask.
Interesting because these typ 32's sold on eBay are over 60 years old and are still sealed in their original storage canisters.
Considering what's on offer here these kits represent an absolute bargain and i couldn't ignore them.
I ordered mine from a well known eBay surplus store in the UK.
The only size available seems to be size 3 - the smallest.  This shortage of the larger sizes seems to be endemic across the internet. Most Google images of the Typ 32 are the size 3.
Presumably sizes 1 and 2 must be rare and command a higher price.

A little bit about the Typ 32 Folkgasmask
In the case of this particular gas mask it really is a little bit.
There is absolutely no information regarding the history, use or anything to do with this mask - almost as if it never existed?
All I do know is that it was made in 1955.

Sweden was historically a neutral nation during the first and second world wars and continued it's neutrality after 1945. Sweden chose not to side with either NATO or the Soviet pact during the 1950's yet still manufactured gas masks for its people.

Those who are paying attention will notice the similarities between this mask and the WW2  British Civilian Respirator
It's basically the same kind of mask except it has two round eye pieces instead of the British one piece visor.

This tin was sealed when i got it. 

Unlike most old gas masks the Swedish Typ 32 comes in a handy storage canister. No need for a cloth haversack it would seem.
As the gas mask was only designed to be used once, a cardboard canister which could be chucked away at the same time was a better idea.
One nice thing i like about this gas mask carrier is the inclusion of the instructions printed on the side.
It would save a lot of time if the instructions were printed on the outside as well as inside. The wearer could familiarise themselves with the drill before even breaking open the seals and getting the mask out.

Due to my over eagerness i decided to open the cardboard canister and break the seals.
Once the metal lid was removed the first thing to come out was the instructions pamphlet complete with a tube of something stuck to the back.
Next out of the canister is the mask itself. It is still sealed in the original plastic bag.
Lastly at the very bottom is a small piece of sack cloth? Presumably for cleaning something?

  British style pepper pot filter

The Typ 32 mask is a much better version of the british civilian respirator of WWII.
The filter, rubber, eye lens and straps on this mask are much better quality and seem to have be built to a more generous budget.
These type of one piece-one use masks are simple in design.
They do not feature any anti-fog capabilities or voice diaphragm or drinking system, they are just simple no nonsense gas masks.

Inside is a basic inhale valve feeding straight from the filter built into the nose.
As no exhale valve exists, the exhaust gases find their way out of the mask via the sides.

The two eyes lens on this mask are made from a primative form of plexiglass and not glass as i first thought.
When looking through the eye holes i found that the field of vision was actually very good. Much better than the single visor piece found on its British ancestor from the war.

Safety pin fastenings 

The fixing system on this mask leaves a lot to be desired.
Once the correct size was determined a safety pin had to hold each strap in place. I don't fancy the thought of stabbing my fingers indescriminately when fumbling around with the basic fitting. It's not the best way of strapping the mask up but thats how it was in those days.

The instructions pamphlet is quite comprehensive and straightforward​ (if you know Swedish)
Those who don't can easily work out what to do by following the old black and white photos placed throughout.

Tube of anti-fog cream stuck to the back...Nice...

Stuck to the back of the paper instructions was this tube of Skydd pasta - protective paste.
I'm still trying to work out exactly what this stuff is but it seems to be an unknown quantity.
I think it's probably a tube of anti-fog cream for smearing on the inside of the plexiglass lens or a decontamination cream of some sort?

Ripped from a sack of spuds?

One can only assume that this tatty looking square of sacking cloth is there for some kind of cleaning purpose? It's not mentioned in the instructions.
This cloth has to be the worst thing to use on the eye lens (if that's what it's there for) the cloth itself is not the softest. I think a piece of lint free stuff would have sufficed. Perhaps old potato sacks were all the Swedes had at the time?

Contains Asbestos - wearing the mask is NOT recommended!

This mask was never going to fit me properly, i knew that, but i was surprised how close it came to being a nice fit. It is just a little too small. Anyway, I'm not planning on wearing this mask again as there is a good chance the filter may contain Asbestos.  Apparently Asbestos is only really a health hazard when it is airborne in the form of a dust.  Many of the old WWII gas masks have got bashed about over the years which could have disturbed the layers of Asbestos inside the filter. 

I don't mind trying the Typ 32 on however, as there can be no way that the filter had been damaged or degredated due to the way it has been neatly packaged and sealed air-tight.

Rating: ✅✅✅✅✅ 5 out of 5

Finding a near perfect gas mask of this age is normally pretty difficult.  However, these fantastic Swedish offerings are in easy reach at the moment.

These masks are still sealed from when they left the Gullmaren factory in 1955. A great addition to any collection and dirt cheap too! I'm now going to buy another and this time leave it sealed!

Nagoya NA-701: Counterfeit Cock-up

Aphoristics World of Radio

Observations....

A Cock-up at the Factory?

Along with many fellow radio operators i buy the cheap NA-701 knock-off dual band walkie-talkie Antennas from China. They work out at roughly £1.70 each and tend to work quite well.

 Cheapo sub-£2 Antennas

It's no secret that these 'Nagoyas' are obvious fakes and i don't have a problem with that. Some quick research will reveal that the real NA-701 looks nothing like these ones. They share no similarities whatsoever, even the lettering on the side is wrong but that's not why i buy these. I don't care what they claim to be as much as how well they work. To this end they are great value.

However, my latest so called 701 is something else.  I hadn't ordered it myself, it came with a Wouxun radio i bought on eBay. The original antenna had gone missing and this was the replacement. 

When i first saw it i burst out laughing and thought the counterfeiters were really taking the piss with this one!

Enter my latest so called NA-701....

 Woh! What's going on there!?

Here on the fake Nagoya criminal line up its easy to pick out the tall one from the rest. 

Why the hell is it longer?  

Is it cut to an irregular length and not suitable for both 70cm and 2m bands?
Would the S.W.R. reading hit the roof and i run the risk of frying the radio?
Answer Yes. probably

 Should be 22cm - whatever!

Unfortunately I don't have an S.W.R. meter to see how badly this antenna performs. So on that basis I don't think it is wise to use the antenna for transmitting.  I have tested it on recieve and found it pretty diabolical. Much worse than the other fakes.

145/435MHz ?! What!

Talk about attention to detail. What the hell were these guys thinking when they tried to copy the logo and frequency ranges? Why on earth would this Nagoya range from 145 on VHF and 435 on UHF and not 144 and 430 like on every other fake nagoya twanger? Bizarre. 

The photo above highlights another issue with this antenna.

Check out the off center connector. It's out of line with the rest of the antenna. Subsequently it's very wonky when being screwed on to a radio. It doesn't quite sit right. It's bloody awful!

Conclusion

I suspect this 'NA-701' is actually a cut down NA-771 antenna for the simple reason that it doesn't move in the same way as the other 701's. It's much stiffer and doesn't take as long to regain it's shaped if you twang it.  All other NA-701's are softer by comparison. So this antenna is a hybrid length if you will. Totally pointless when all said and done.


It's a pile of shit which is more likely to poke your eye out than pluck a decent signal out of the ether!
It's the wheelie bin for you shit-whip!

Czech M10M Gas Mask

Cold War Crap

Czech M10M Gas Mask 

Manufacturer: ?

Model: M10M

Country : Czechoslovakia / East Germany

Year: 1985 & 1988

Production Run: 1970's - 1980's

Size/s: Both size 2

Price: £10 + £4 postage

Vendor: private eBay sellers

Shipped From: UK

What's in the Kit? Face piece, 2x cheek filter packs, 2x Ballistic Outserts, 2x Filter caps, 1x Drinking system cap

First impressions

These Czech masks are all over eBay at the moment. They are widely Regarded as the best of the  american M-17 cold war clones.

It wasn't that long ago that I was reviewing the rare Polish MP-4 clone.

To see the original MP-4 review Click Here

I really liked the polish version although it's cloth covered filter caps were a little manky. 

I always had my eye on getting the much improved Czech offering and in a twist of irony two cheap ones come along at the same time. I couldn't pass it up.

This cheek filtered Czech mask comes in two distinct flavours.

The M10 and the M10M.

Differences between the two include an upgraded voice emitter and added drinking system on the M10M. 

Both types of M10 can be purchased in brand new and sealed condition from eBay for under £20. 

Rather than buying the standard M10 mask I decided to skip that and head straight for the top model the M10M.

Both of the masks featured here cost me £10 each which works out a few pounds cheaper than buying them from an eBay storefront. 

Same mask, different bags 

As the M10M's were bought from different sellers at different times so they arrived at my door a few days apart.

The first to arrive was new in the sense that it hadn't been issued to anyone but it wasn't still sealed in its factory state. Consequently the rubber was a little grubby and required a little soapy water. The second mask on the other hand was sealed from the factory and still had the plastic travel spacers still fitted. 

One kit arrived with only one set of filters which seemed a little odd seeing as though the complete kit should come with two sets as standard  No matter though as extra sets are relatively easy to lay your hands on.

Both kits came in different sized haversacks which also seemed a little strange.  Essentially they are the same bag with the same pockets and compartments but one is noticeably smaller.

A little bit about the M10 series

These masks were issued to personnel in the Czech and East German military during the cold war period. Quite why the east German NVA enter this equation is anyone's guess. I was lead to believe that this was a solely Czechoslovakia issued mask. - the internet says otherwise.

When it comes to plagiarism the Soviets were masters at it. 

Take the American M-17 mask. Widely recognised as the mask used during the Vietnam war. It was black in colour and looked menacing. The Americans did away with it a long time ago. 

Enter the cold war and the Soviet copying machine.

Throughout the Warsaw pact countries were M-17 variations​.

Notably the Polish MP-4, Bulgarian BD-1 and of course the Czech M10 and M10M. The latter having the best features and build quality.

The M-17 wasn't the only mask to get duplicated by the reds. 

The US M-9 also fell to the counterfeiters in the form of the Yugoslavian MC-1. 

United States M-17 from the 1950's

Masks which featured cheek filters such as the M-17, MP-4, PDE-1 and M10/M were found to be flawed when it came to 'In the field' filter changing. Not only was it a faff to change the filters, it would also prove to be a safety issue as the mask has to be completely removed before filter changes. The poor fella wearing the mask had to totally expose himself to the very noxious crap he was trying to get away from! 

If your filters got clogged or wet then you were in a worse situation. An oversight on the design table.

As Cheek filter masks were inherently impractical it wasn't long before the mask was replaced. 

The Face piece

Dates printed on the elasticated straps

The face pieces​ on these M10M's are made to a really high standard it would seem. The rubber is thick and heavy duty yet also feels soft and supple.
The M10M features an inner chin hugging mask which helps in making an air tight seal. This extra part is really helpful and doesn't get in the way.

The voice emitter featured on the front of the M10M is made solely from plastic. Behind the pepper pot style cover lies various parts to aid with communication.
This mask does come with anti-fog tissot tubes that are situated on the inside behind each eye piece. They work quite well, happily clearing away any mist with every intake of breath.

The rear multi-point harness is easy to fit and adjust. It's made from a soft elasticated fabric which doesn't rip the scalp or pull hair out. Adjusting the fit is an easy one handed operation involving nothing more than a pull to tighten or a press on the buckle to loosen.

This unpleasant looking thing looks familiar?

Overall the mask itself is very nice. It fits well and doesn't seem to weigh too heavy on the face. 

Drinking Straw

The drinking straw is made from good quality rubber with a metal coupling at the end. 

Unlike the drinking straws on the GP-7V twhich are exposed to the elements, The straw on the M10M is totally hidden behind a flap of rubber.You wouldn't think so if you saw the eBay sellers photos of the mask.  They just leave it looped up on the side of the mask,  just ready to get snagged up on something and ripped out! 

 Mask on the right shows the correct way to stow the Straw

Unlike on the GP-7V the drinking straw on this Czech mask (when fitted correctly)  is perfectly protected from the elements or nasty chemicals when not in use. I have found the rubber drinking hose to be soft and chewy on the GP-7V as if something has reacted to the rubber somewhere along the way? Hiding the coiled straw behind a rubber flap is definitely the way to go.

The Filters

The filters supplied with this mask are fairly easy to identify. 

The silver foil filters are intended for NBC use whilst the clear bag type are for tear gas and dust etc.

Each kit should come with a set of each type but just recently it seems that some eBay sellers have started taking a set out from the bag and selling them separately. 

Getting replacement filters for these masks was quite  difficult at one time as their production ceased years ago but it seems that just recently they have become more numerous? 

So having established that identifying and obtaining these filters is easy it's time to mention the utterly horrendous not-so-easy fitting of the filters to the mask.

It can take up to ten minutes to fit both cheek filters. Quicker once you practice a few times. It's a horrible task to get involved with. 

After surgically inserting both filters a further tussle ensues involving the screwing on of the outer filter caps which have a tendancy to unscrew themselves again it would seem?! Anyway, the final step involves the buttoning up of the inner flaps so to speak. It's no wonder the cheek filter concept was dropped.

The Ballistic Outserts

These 'Extra Lens' as they are often referred to on eBay are infact ballistic outserts.  As well as serving as an extra layer of protection to the permanently fixed main lens. They also act as a cold weather barrier to help with anti-fog and as a way of attaching the NBC hood (sold separately if you can find one) to the mask. Overall they are quite useful.

They are made from perspex I think and not glass. 

It must have been much easier and cheaper to replace these than to replace the main glass ones should something have gone wrong.

The Look

Gas masks are never a good look especially on me but this M10M is pretty cool. Even though it's an old obselete pile of rubber it still looks modern somehow. 

It's not to bulky to wear with an NBC suit. 

Rating ✅✅✅✅✅ 5 out of 5

As far as brand new and sealed masks goes the M10M is the popular choice. Its easily the best of the US M-17 copies without a doubt and better than the M-17 itself I venture.

OK it won't save you from a nuclear apocalypse but it will fend off the odd tear gas round. Great for collecting at this price.