Guidance from the Imperial War Museum December 7, 2004: Most British gas masks of WW2 vintage have asbestos (blue and/or white) as a component in their filters.
The mask which looks like the Mickey Mouse’s face attached to a branded air filter was designed to fit children aged 18 months to 4 years old. © Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Production on the Small Child’s Respirator, known as the Mickey Mouse, began in February 1939 the standard particulate filter contained asbestos. Amongst the masks made for children was a Walt Disney designed Mickey Mouse gas mask, to reduce children’s potential fear of wearing the possibly life-saving mask. Later, I realised gas masks were issued in case of poisonous gases being used by the Germans. Later on, at school, we had to take our gas masks with us every day and if we forgot it we were in trouble! We dared not leave them at home!! After all that, throughout the war we never ever had to use them. I had to make do with a very ordinary one in a boring brown cardboard box. Unfortunately, when we finally got to the head of the queue, I was told I was too old to have the Mickey Mouse type. I was so excited, I prayed that I would be able to have this very special gas mask. My mother explained to me that she thought I might be able to have a Mickey Mouse gas mask. I remember standing in the queue waiting for my gas mask, not really knowing what it was for. I was 3 1/2 years old when the war started.
