During World War 2 everyone was issued with a gas mask to deal with the potential threat of a gas attack, they were carried normally in a cardboard box or in some cases a tin box and had to be taken wherever you went.
Children were issued with coloured masks to make them feel less scary.
Babies had special cradle-like respirators which would only be issued out if an emergency situation arose. Babies were put inside the case and when all the covering flaps were folded and the straps closed up, the baby was totally enclosed, fresh air was pumped in, using a hand pump, through a filter on the side ensuring the baby inhaled no gas.
Many of these masks were made in Manchester by P. Frankenstein & sons, this must have been a real boost to the parents trying to get the baby inside the mask!
