Tsinghua university masks

Tsinghua university gas mask

Also

Gu Yuxiu's gas mask

Note that this definition encompasses both models

Filter connection
Fixed filter

Made in

Republic of China

Issued to

國民革命軍 (Chinese National Revolutionary Army)

Manufacturer

Tsinghua university

Issued in

1933

1937

During the various Sino-Japanese conflicts of the '30s, there were times when the National revolutionary army needed extra gas masks to protect its soldiers. In two of these occasions, Tsinghua university devised and produced its own types of gas masks.

First model (1933)[]

The first model was born off of the fear of more chemical attacks from the Japanese invaders in early 1933.

Development and production[]

At the beginning of January 1933, the students and teacher of the University started designing a smoke bomb and a gas mask. During that month a series of machinery was purchased to start production. On the 30^th of January and the 2^nd of February, reports and testing samples were sent to Liu Bingchen, the director of the Beiping National government's military commission's medic division. After running some tests, the mask was deemed sufficiently suitable for army use, and therefore 5000 masks were ordered.

To start mass production Tsinghua university had to import raw materials, especially coconut shells for the making of activated charcoal. The central industrial laboratory of Nanking and the MSG factory of Shanghai Tianchu were contacted, both agreed to provide material. Overall, 100 tons of coconut shells were sent, alongside large quantities of activated charcoal. The production of the masks was organized this way: the canisters, the faceblanks and the eyepieces were made by the mechanical department, while the filtering materials were prepared by the chemical department. Initially, the students were the only ones working on the masks, but later 40 to 50 workers were hired to ease the stress on the students.

After a month and a half, 6.500 masks were produced, around 1.000 of which didn't have a filter. The masks were purchased by the Beiping's military commission (5.000 units), the Xuanhua National Salvation Federation (400 units), and the 113^th division (150 units).

Note that some sources claim that up to 8.000 masks were made, with some claiming that Tsinghua university and Peking university produced altogether 10.000 units.

Mask overview[]

The first variant of the Tsinghua mask was quite simple: a rubber faceblank with 5 straps and a filter directly attached to the mask, without any valves. Some improvements were done during the production run: because of the fragility of the rubber used in the cold Chinese climate, the faceblanks were rubberized on both the inside and the outside; punching machines, taken from cigarettes' tins factories, were added in the production line to press aluminium sheets to affix the lenses to the faceblank.

Second model (1936-1937)[]

During November 1936, a minor conflict was initiated in the Suiyuan province between the Republic of China and Japanese proxy armies (Mongol Military Government and Collaborationist Chinese Army). One of the commanders, Fu Zuoyi, noticed that the Italian type mask didn't work due to extreme cold (up to -40 °C), and because of that asked Tsinghua university for an emergency production run of masks.

Development and production[]

The principal of the university, Mei Yiqi, discussed with Gu Yuxiu about the development of an improved type of gas mask, and, after agreeing to use emergency funds, the development started on the 19^thof November 1936. The sources for activated charcoal used in the first type of mask were unavailable, and therefore new providers would have to be found: a letter was sent to the Beijing-Tianjin Railway Administration, asking to transport material from Yi County, Fangshan county and other places. On the 5^thof December, Mei Yiqi sent a letter to Fu Zuoyi, alongside Gu Yuxiu with 200 samples of the newly developed mask. On the 9^th the masks arrived, and due to the good results another 10.000 copies were ordered (some sources claim 8.000). Tsinghua hired 97 workers to produce the masks, and in February 1937 they were shipped to Fu Zuoyi.

Mask overview[]

The second model of mask presented numerous improvements over the 1933 model (the two updates done to the 1933 model mid-production were included in the 1936-1937 model but will not be mentioned in this list):

An inlet valve and an outlet valve were added, lengthening the duration of the filter
The eyepieces were provided with replaceable antifreeze film
The bag had a belt would be tied around the waist for easier carrying
A fabric mouth guard was added to help with sweat issues
The facepiece surface was enlarged

Tsinghua university masks

Contents

First model (1933)[]

Development and production[]

Mask overview[]

Second model (1936-1937)[]

Development and production[]

Mask overview[]

Gallery[]

Sources[]