Object of the month from Arundel Museum

The image of Mickey Mouse was a great favourite with children in the Second World War, and is still well known today.
Mickey Mouse gas maskMickey Mouse gas mask
Mickey Mouse gas mask

The government of the day decided to use his image in the form of a gas mask for children.

There was considerable fear of the use of poisonous gas if there were to be an invasion.

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The adult mask was rather formidable, so it was considered less frightening for children to use the face of Mickey Mouse.

Made of rubber with little black ears and a red flap for a nose, it was pulled over the head.

A funnel shaped mouth piece over the child’s mouth filtered out any gas that may come through. It was very hot inside.

Gas masks such as these were sometimes made with asbestos, which was not thought to be harmful at the time.

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Luckily this mask did not have to be used during the Second World War.

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