Need an historic advice for new object: was it used in WW1?

[panzerschreck]

I would like to put in maps oil barrels, in the camps. But, I am not sure they were used in ww1... In what type of cans or barrel, oil was transported? I looked for some info, but i didn't find... +Rep for help.

[Frontiergame]

From what I've heard, they were used. I'm pretty sure that oil barrels like that have been used since the 19th Century.

[don_Durandal]

Steel barrels were uncommon. The model in your image didn't really exist in that particular form yet.

Fuel was supplied in 2 gallon petrol tins, sometimes 4 gallon (transported in wooden crates of two cans each).

Searching for “valor petrol cans” should give you an idea of what they looked like. (“Valor” being the name of the main tin can producer back then). The “flimsies” of WW2 notoriety, before the widespread copying of jerrycans, were direct offspring of these containers.


For the record the 55 gallon drum didn’t see widespread use until the middle of the 20th century. Their first military use was by the US army in the pacific theatre of WW2.
Also they were first patented by Elizabeth Cochrane in 1905, so no they were most certainly not in use in the 19th century.

[panzerschreck]

I found this picture of the french "service d'essence aux armées", the barrel seems indeed different:

[don_Durandal]

I found this picture of the french "service d'essence aux armées", the barrel seems indeed different:
<picture removed>

That's a good picture, as it shows the two types of fuel containers used by the French army during the First World War.
The small ones in the front are 5 L cans already in use pre-war. The cylindrical drums are 50 L ones introduced in the middle of the war and still in use until WW2.

The US army used 10 gallon cylindrical drums. As mentioned above the British had 2 or 4 gallon cubic cans.
The only ones who might have used something as shown in the first image are the Germans, but I'm not going to advance or confirm something for which I do not have sources.

[panzerschreck]

That's a good picture, as it shows the two types of fuel containers used by the French army during the First World War.
The small ones in the front are 5 L cans already in use pre-war. The cylindrical drums are 50 L ones introduced in the middle of the war and still in use until WW2.

The US army used 10 gallon cylindrical drums. As mentioned above the British had 2 or 4 gallon cubic cans.
The only ones who might have used something as shown in the first image are the Germans, but I'm not going to advance or confirm something for which I do not have sources.

I think I will do a model as the 50L

[TheRomanRuler]

I believe picture descripes barrels correctly, simple as possible, yet very effective. World wars were first ones that saw mass use of cars/trucks, so there is no time or need to make yper fancy barrels