SV135 WWII Army Nesco Mermite food carrier, complete

I bought this complete carrier set almost 20 years ago from an elderly couple down the block who were moving away. The husband was old enough to have brought it back from Europe (most were left there because they are HEAVY). I originally thought the large container would make a nice planter (after painting it!) for the yard but never used it as such. Tucked it away in the garage corner instead and just kinda forgot about it.

It's in great condition - a broken gasket and a slight dent is all that appears to be wrong with it. Very little rust (mostly on bottom, naturally), no holes, very clean - even the pans, which are a complete set. 1943/44. I have more photos of each piece. Any questions, let me know.

I'd so appreciate how to sell this without using eboo as I don't want to be scammed. I've seen these, or their parts, on that site and know there are those who watch for the containers. Whether they buy honestly is another thing. What are other options that work or how to work eboo successfully (if possible)? Is local Facebook market worth trying? TIA!

 

Did someone stencil on the “SV 135” recently? That lettering is surely newer than the container. I don’t think the collectors would like the new stenciling. Where did the “SV-135” come from, I can’t find anything searching for that.

 

That was on there when I bought it. I have no idea what it means. I do know these carriers had stenciling on them when used for blood (lots of images out there for those).
So I researched this more just now and found this site!!! https://www.ima-usa.com/ Why didn't this come up before now?? Worthpoint is another source for the food carriers but it needs membership and is mostly what gets sold on oobay, I think??
I will do more searching for 'SV 135'. Are you a vet, S.arsenal?

 

Yes, US Navy 1967-1980.

 

That's good to know - thank you for your service. So, you are saying you have no clue what SV 135 means either? I thought it was perhaps the troop number...hmmm I guess this means more research.

Do you know much about WWII artifacts? Did they perhaps stencil these carriers after the war? It doesn't look much used. I am totally assuming this carrier was brought over by the man who sold it and I don't even know if he served in WWII. He was old enough to have, however. But I probably shouldn't say what I don't really know about it, right??

I will look into the IMA website more, see if I can get info from them. Thanks again for your comment - it's good to know it's not as straightforward as I thought.

 

Thank you, INH! This looks vaguely familiar, I think I scanned through it at some point this summer but will read again, maybe something will click. The price range for these is extreme as well, if you're lucky to just happen on one at a garage sale. It's knowing their often extreme sentimental value however that's somewhat hard to deal with. I'm not rich, can use the money, but I have no interest in the military. At least this was something that was helpful rather than potentially deadly, but even so I'll be happy to finally sell it but at the best price I can get. I guess that could be true of a lot of what's on here as well tho.

That said, if I "join" this military forum and post this on there as something for sale, will those members respond okay with that? Or would it be seen as an intrusion? I have no clue once again...hmmm, where's the baby emoticon?

 

hmm - that's weird how that showed up above...as part of the quote? How did I do that...

 

You started typing your reply before the "end quote" code - looks like this [/QUOTE]

 

In biology, a mermite is a kind of seagoing termite. Insect equivalent of mermaid. Shipworms eat them. Equador is the only country where they are found on land. In the ocean, they are rarely found more than 16 degrees north or south of the equator, but global warming is causing a very gradual increase in their habitat.



Lying again, are ya?

 

[/QUOTE]
Oh, okay! Thanks so much, B-gma! I'll watch for that from now on. Too much going on. And managed to fix without totally deleting! Thank you again!

 

Are you a biologist as well? So what's a shipworm then? And this doesn't explain why these carriers are called Mermite. Every time I go to research them "Marmite" always comes up first. LOL

 

No, I’m a bovine scatologist.

 

You guys are just so funny, aren't you? Like I'm going to trust anything you say from now on!

 

Mermite references the insulation,they were transport containers for cooked food and iced blood. Modern version.... https://militaryantiquesmuseum.com/umg0032-modern-us-soft-mermite-insulated-bag.21983.htm

 

I don't think anyone really knows what "mermite" actually defines, how its use originated except from young American soldiers in foreign countries who didn't understand the accents or the languages. Makes most sense as a word for food carrier re marmite, the cooking dish - as INH suggests. I'm just repeating what I saw them called on hooboy and what most military enthusiasts use.

Here's my proof - if these "ration-al" guys don't know, who does?
http://www.mreinfo.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1428

 

You could probably contact the company which made them,there is probably history of their good there. National Enameling and Stamping Company

The people on that forum sounded like a bunch of "clowns".

 

Good idea, Hollyblue - except they are no longer in business. But some history is out there and I found a link to a Facebook account that explains the inner coating of my food carrier (some don't have this), which is graniteware. One of the NESCO founders saw enamelware on tin pots and pans in Europe, learned its process, and came back to create this on sheet iron using granite, thus creating 'Granite Ironware'.

As per the ration-mongers, they are a different kind of group, no doubt.