The C60 gas mask was produced by Pirelli from the 1960s to the 1980s. This mask, equipped with a panoramic visor, has been designed for industrial use and, in some variants, for use with the fire brigade both as a respirator and as an SCBA facepiece.
Mask overview[]
The faceblank, made of moulded rubber, sports an integrated oral-nasal cup.
The following parts attached to it:
- Adjustable 5-point rubber harness
- Panoramic visor + fixing ring
- Lateral exhale valves
- Lower assembly with inlet valve and 40mm DIN threaded connection
- Front voice diaphragm
Industrial variant[]
This mask, when produced for industrial uses, was made in different colors, such as gray or black.
The mask has different markings placed. In the upper part, above the visor, there is the Pirelli logo and the mark "MADE IN ITALY" while, on the sides, there are the size indications and the distinctive ENPI logo.
This mask, like all the work safety equipment of the time, were certified by this company which set and recognized the minimum safety requirements.
The mask was usually supplied in a yellow cardboard box with the Pirelli logos or with a metal case dedicated to this mask. It was also accompanied by a use and maintenance manual which could be purple or green and a small cylinder box containing a cloth with anti-dimming solution.
Italian fire brigade variant[]
In addition to the versions for industrial use, two sets were also produced for the Italian fire brigade.
These sets, named V.V.F.60 and V.V.F.70, came with a dedicated carry bag, universal filters and a modified facepiece.
The facepiece had the characteristic of not having side exhale valves and a different frontal coupling that allowed to connect the facepiece with rebreathers.
However, to allow use with standard filters, a special part was provided to screw to the mask connector which was equipped with a relief valve and a standard thread.
The version for firefighters consisted of the following kit:
- Modified C60 facepiece
- Connector for filters with relief valve
- DIRIN 600 universal filters
- Carry bag in waterproofed canvas
- Anti-dimming cloth
- Instruction manual.
The two sets differed in the colors of the metal parts, gray on the first version and black on the second, and for the filters which, although of the same shape and size, differed in the markings.
