Sewing Needles

[P-40Warhawk]

I used to see these in WWII sewing kits, but never had much information on them (since they are not dated), but here are some sewing needles that I assume are of WWII vintage. If anyone has more information on these, I'd love to know. Being in the US, you rarely see any UK items that haven't been added to by collectors or reenactors trying to complete a display. An added challenge to those outside the UK is trying to verify true wartime pieces (vs. postwar fillers) and non-UK copies (especially with P-37 webbing).

 

 

No date, but it does have the broad arrow on the packaging.

[P-40Warhawk]

other side

[stratasfan]

I don't know about needles with military things, but sewing needles made in and from England are not uncommon. From the 1930s through the 60s at least. I have otns of sewing needles packs that are British made. Typically I like the 1950s and 60s Embroidery 8 and Sharps. Interesting to know that they had plain packs of needles in WWII sewing kits.

[edstorey]

Those sewing kits (called housewife by the military) were a pretty common item 30 years ago. I suspect that they are post-SWW manufacture although they do fit the bill for wartime.

 

 

[P-40Warhawk]

I don't know about needles with military things, but sewing needles made in and from England are not uncommon. From the 1930s through the 60s at least. I have otns of sewing needles packs that are British made. Typically I like the 1950s and 60s Embroidery 8 and Sharps. Interesting to know that they had plain packs of needles in WWII sewing kits.

 

Good point that the UK is known for sewing needles, I'm not sure why that is, but excellent point (no pun intended)

[P-40Warhawk]

Those sewing kits (called housewife by the military) were a pretty common item 30 years ago. I suspect that they are post-SWW manufacture although they do fit the bill for wartime.

 

 

 

 

Hi Ed,

 

Perfect, just what I was thinking. I have seen so many of these in the past, that I began to wonder if they had been sold complete, or if someone had added contents to 'complete' them. That looks like the same contents, down to the thread from Scotland. I checked every one of these kits I could for a date, and never saw one.

[edstorey]

They may even have been made for the Prison Service as they used ex-military clothing and broad arrowed their kit as well.

[P-40Warhawk]

Hi Ed, good point. I have to admit that I could never find any real information on them in the past. With WWI equipment you can at least consult the list of changes. The same goes for those nylon toothbrushes (the ones that look terrible, and bubble up), just when were they really approved? Like the soap tins, they seem to be dated 1945.