M42 Messkit – 0/0657/0001 ( AEM.A )
The M31 messkit or “Kochgeschirre M 31 (Alum.)” was a 1.6 liter capacity cooking pot carried on the left side of the breadbag. The messkit was a clever engineered piece of equipment capable of serving as a cooking or eating pot. The early models also had indicating marks on the front, under the handle on which could measure the size of the contents. It had a cleverly placed wire handle on which the messkit could be hung above a fire. The messkits came in a big variety of colours and materials. At first the messkits where nearly completely made out of aluminium except the wire handle. From around 1940 onwards the handle on the lid was made from steel. In 1942 the simplified steel model “Kochgeschirre M 42 (Eis.)” was introduced. It had less and less well crafted details and the production became a hurry. I found the designation “M42” in the production numbers of the German Industry.
Model: M42
Marking: RBNR. 0/0657/0001
Maker: Annweiler Email-u.Metall-Werke, Annweil. (usually stamped AEM.A in stead of the RB number)
Material: Enameled steel, painted over in olive
Colour: Black and gray speckled enamel finish
Notes: This messkit was painted over the enamel finish. This Olive paint however never really bonds well to the enamel and therefor nearly never remains.
S. van Wingerden collection
