Anybody know what this is? Police related?

toma747

August 05, 2013 09:57

Hi all...does anybody know what this interesting old item is? It is about 10" long. Looks to be some type of heavy gas cylinder with leather case. Rear snap reads: GEO F. HEROLD POLICE EQUIP. N.Y. Has partial sticker which reads: stamp is indicator of being opened. Must have help some type of gas? Is it police or paramedic related? Any help would be appreciated.

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  62fuelie

  August 05, 2013 10:25

  It looks like one of the various Tear gas/Saps that were available from the pre-WW-II era until the advent of "Mace". They could dispense a small amount of tear gas through the nozzle and, when that didn't work, could be used as a rather formidable sap as the metal gas cylinder contained in the leather was fairly heavy. This one looks to be well made and was probably a high-tech item in its day.

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  toma747

  August 05, 2013 10:34

  I was thinking along the same lines.. Id love to find out for sure and get some more information on this. Interesting for sure..

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  babun

  August 05, 2013 13:26

  It appears to be the refill tank for the teargas billy clubs of the 1940's. George Herold was a retired PO from NYC that opened the biggest
  Gun and supply store right next to the main Po station in NYC. it later became Jovine Guns, for a long time the biggest supplier of PO stuff.
  here is a billy club that it would refill
  
  http://www.armslist.com/posts/1201800/detroit-michigan-antiques-for-sale-trade--antique-tear-gas-billy-club-baton-1925-vintage-police
  
  

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  Herschel

  August 06, 2013 15:42

  Tear gas billies were items of issue in U. S. Marshal's Offices in the early 1960's. They looked just like the one pictured by babun. The leather part unscrewed from the metal part. A cartridge was inserted and the two parts screwed back together. The the knurled metal rim where the leather thong is attached was pulled back to cock it. The sliding safety was moved forward to allow the button in the center to be pressed in to fire it. It emitted a small stream of tear gas for a few feet. I never saw one used in a real life situation but it appears they would not be very effective. I can't imagine how it would work without a cartridge. What would would eject the tear gas? How would the tear gas be contained in the billy?

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