Look what I got this weekend - Metal Stihl Gas Can from the 80s

[beelsr]

Never seen this before...

Father-in-law had this in his storage trailer, next to his old Dynamark that died on him 10 years ago (another thread for another time, that one).

In spite of the obvious peeling paint and rust, no leaks - 1/2 gallon of mix still in the can. Peeled the rubber gasket off and sloshed it around some. Didn't feel brave enough to throw the old mix it in a saw so I dumped it in the burn barrel and whaddayaknow, 10 year old gas still burns... opcorn:

Anyway, so is this a collectible item and if so, what's it worth? Or am I better off sandblasting it clean and repainting it?

What's the "USMC" mean in this context?

 

[Sprig]

Cool! I have no idea what something like that is worth, it was manufactured just before the Blitz cans became plastic though. Appears to be a real odd-ball item.
You may want to contact the company to see if they still have production numbers, could be a rarity, then again could be 'meh'.
> http://www.blitzusa.com/history.htm

:Cheers:

Serge

 

[BostonBull]

I have seen/heard of them before. They were military issue, hence the USMC (United States Marine Corps). I forget what saw they came with, but it was a whole kit. Nice find!

 

[mattinky]

I have no idea if it's worth anything or not, but it is very cool!, I assume the bottom half is a tool box? Matt

 

[rreidnauer]

I have no idea if it's worth anything or not, but it is very cool!, I assume the bottom half is a tool box? Matt

I'm betting both halves are the fuel can. No doubt it's designed that way to be collapsible/stackable for shipping. Space is always at a premium with the military, so thousands of empty gas cans taking up a lot of dead airspace would be foolish.

At very least, someting other than gas could be stored inside. Who knows, maybe even the powerhead was contained within. That would have been a logical use when originally issued.

 

[Lakeside53]

Let me know if you want to sell the spout!!

The can is indeed two piece.... tools (or lunch/beer) and fuel...

 

[GASoline71]

My dad has one of those... Got it brand new when he bought the 028 in 1984. Cool can. I had it for awhile but it is now back with him.

Gary

 

[ShoerFast]

In the early 80's , I stocked and sold them, they went for around $20 - $25* if they came through a Stihl distributor.

I gave my Dad one for Christmas one year, but had never "sold" one to myself. My Dad likes his so well that he constantly ask me if were he could get one for me.

A regular QT plastic oil bottle will lay flat in the bottom half for bar oil, along with a spare plug, wrench and a couple extra chains and file!

I would buy one in a second just for the nostalgia!

*I can't rember what I had for supper last night, so that price is from the hip?

 

[rreidnauer]

NUTS! I guess I guessed wrong. Wudda been cool though!

 

[ShoerFast]

NUTS! I guess I guessed wrong. Wudda been cool though!

Welcome to the site RReidnauer!

Stick around, if we bet a Dr. Pepper each time, you could rack a 12 pack up in no time from me.

There fun cans, hold a little over 1 1/2 gallon so it is easy to mix a gallon with the near 1/2 gallon or so left, so the oil is always easy math.

 

[beelsr]

Let me know if you want to sell the spout!!

The can is indeed two piece.... tools (or lunch/beer) and fuel...

Sorry, not selling the spout - make the rest of it kinda worthless.... The only thing really wrong with it is I need a new gasket for the spout.

Well, and all the surface rust. :bang:

Looks like I'll be buying some paint from the dealer. Or maybe I'll powder coat it when the brother-in-law finally give me may PC machine and oven back...

 

[beelsr]

NUTS! I guess I guessed wrong. Wudda been cool though!

No problem. The bottom was 20 feet away on a different shelf when I found the top part. I was looking at the rubber gasket and it's "keyed" to fir onto something else but it took me another 30 minutes to find the other half. Made me really wonder how to store the spout when I didn't have the storage compartment...

BTW, I just saw you're in Pennsburg. I used to live in EG. Out on Kutztown road actually. Moved 100 miles north 4 years ago.

 

[andrewspens]

I know where to find a bunch of those

I used work as a volunteer firefighter in Pierce County, WA. Ron Jones was our local Stihl guy (shop is in the fire district), so guess what? All of our power stuff was Stihl, go figure, huh? We had one of those cans on at least every other rig (probably still do). Gas in the top, scrench and chains in the bottom.

 

[GASoline71]

I used work as a volunteer firefighter in Pierce County, WA. Ron Jones was our local Stihl guy (shop is in the fire district), so guess what? All of our power stuff was Stihl, go figure, huh? We had one of those cans on at least every other rig (probably still do). Gas in the top, scrench and chains in the bottom.

When my Dad bought the 028 brand new in 1984, he got it from Ron Jones Power Equipment in Tacoma and it came with one of those cans... small world huh?

Gary

 

[bump_r]

I've seen those go for $63 on ebay. Really nice ones, but that model. I don't know if it's worth more in original condition or restored, but I'd take care of it nonetheless.

 

[rreidnauer]

BTW, I just saw you're in Pennsburg. I used to live in EG. Out on Kutztown road actually. Moved 100 miles north 4 years ago.

Ha! Wow, I currently live very close to Kutztown Rd. (just one road over actually) But I'm currently looking for land in upstate PA, McKean County area. (though I'm keeping an open mind for anything from there to as far South as Eastern Tennessee)

 

[Cedarkerf]

I've got one we got when my dad bought the 032 back around 1780. or maybe it was 1880 can't remember

 

[beelsr]

I've seen those go for $63 on ebay. Really nice ones, but that model. I don't know if it's worth more in original condition or restored, but I'd take care of it nonetheless.

Found one on ebay just now - completed that didn't sell. Don't know why I didn't see it before. 2.5 gal - same size but one piece, all fuel can.

$10.00 but no bids.

Things are almost always worth more to collectors in original condition. I collect old military firearms and it's a great source of debate - depending on the type of accumulator, err, collector you are...

 

[beelsr]

Ha! Wow, I currently live very close to Kutztown Rd. (just one road over actually) But I'm currently looking for land in upstate PA, McKean County area. (though I'm keeping an open mind for anything from there to as far South as Eastern Tennessee)

schoolhouse or hill?

my avatar is me in my old backyard right after hurricane floyd took out a few trees in my backyard...

 

[beelsr]

I would buy one in a second just for the nostalgia!

You have your chance.....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=014&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=330120760347&rd=1&rd=1