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DavidMcmillan

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All the rest of his surplus stuff was easy to peg to Vietnam era, so I guessed this would be also. The design makes sense as to containing wire/cable. Thanks Joel. And thank yo to the rest, for the great material to use at other appropriate times!
 

Neanderthal

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It's (was) used to hold a spool of field telephone wire; from Korean War/Vietnam Era; probably been out of use for a good 25-30 years now, anyway. Connect to a field phone on one end; (CP) trot the line down the road to the other phone (OP) and connect. "Ringy-dingy, ringy dingy." "Hello? 10th Marines? Uh, could you guys like, shoot a whole buncha arty about 100 yds in front of me? Like, uh...right now? Please?"

* From same era as topographical map and compass, and plotting boards; since superseded by much more modern gizmos.

Yep, exactly what I said. A thingy.
 

coolhandluke

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It's (was) used to hold a spool of field telephone wire; from Korean War/Vietnam Era; probably been out of use for a good 25-30 years now, anyway. Connect to a field phone on one end; (CP) trot the line down the road to the other phone (OP) and connect. "Ringy-dingy, ringy dingy." "Hello? 10th Marines? Uh, could you guys like, shoot a whole buncha arty about 100 yds in front of me? Like, uh...right now? Please?"

* From same era as topographical map and compass, and plotting boards; since superseded by much more modern gizmos.

Glad that you could ID it Joel. I know my field gear pretty well, but I'm not familiar with this piece. I thought that it might be for telephone/radio/telegraph line based on the single carry handle and side opening. The only wire cases that I have ever seen are more rigid and spool shaped though. It is most likely from the 1956-1967 timeframe (possibly a little later) based on the color, material, etc.
 

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