Military issue box ... pls help identify

guitar1580 · January 24, 2010, 02:34 PM

This is going to be my new ammo box. I'm trying to determine if it is from the Vietnam era, or WWII.

I think my Dad got it from a flea market 15 or so yrs ago. The top has stenciled "BATTERY CASE FOR LF l - (2), could be L(2)...paint is light by the seam.

It weighs a ton, has 20Amp 250 Volt twist lock plugs on one end, insulation inside, leather handle, metal liner in lid, vents with screens in lid. It must be a rechargeable battery pack for communications, possibly. It is very heavily constructed, and seals up very tightly with the heavy duty latches.

It's been laying in the basement for years, but now that I'm back into shooting, I think it will make an excellent range / ammo box... especially after I see what the websites are selling the cheap tin boxes for! I may get rid of the plugs to make more storage space, but will have to make a metal plate to cover the holes.

If you have used one of these, or can help identify it, please let me know. Thanks,

Josh P

Old Grump · January 24, 2010, 05:17 PM

As an old Navy man from the 60's that acronym means Low altitude aircraft or low frequency radios. Just pure guess on my part but the (2) makes me think that was one of two batteries for a radio.

jborushko · January 24, 2010, 05:49 PM

i dont know about this one... but the sheet metal and metal's tech shops on my base will make boxes to fit anything... so this may be a custom job for proprietary equipment. just a thought

obviously i could be wrong

is there a nsn number on it? a 13 digit, numeric only, with or without dashes. ie: 3139-00-121-6210

guitar1580 · January 24, 2010, 05:56 PM

Yes, the number is 17 digits. It reads:

B&H 092128 6780 963 5426

jborushko · January 25, 2010, 01:04 AM

17 digit... thats not a nsn like i said nsn are only 13 digits long - but thats currently... im not sure about 30+ years ago

Old Grump · January 25, 2010, 04:08 AM

B&H could stand for B&H Electronics Corporation which leads me back to low frequency radios. If that is the case its a manufactures ID code not a military stock number.

telcomfaust · January 25, 2010, 07:30 PM

did some online searching last night and sent out some e-mails

got this reply back:

I don't know about this box, but . . .
It says B&H which might mean Bell & Howell
AND
the number 6780 is the Federal Stock Code for Photographic sets, Kits, & Outfits
so
it may be the power source for some type of projector.
LF-1 version 2 might be the nomenclature for the projector.

Have Fun,

Brooke Clarke
http://www.PRC68.com

jborushko · January 25, 2010, 08:45 PM

i tried different variations of your number in a nsn database... droping the first or last few numbers. and no go. sorry!

45Gunner · January 26, 2010, 08:35 PM

I think it is a transportation case for radio active material. You better get it and yourself checked out.

guitar1580 · January 26, 2010, 08:59 PM

So that's why I've been glowing in the dark.

Well it does sound like we're getting closer to identifying it, but I"m still wondering the age, since the numbers aren't matching up to anything.

I'm hoping someone will turn up who recognizes it.

Thanks to everyone who helped.

Josh P

January 24, 2010, 02:34 PM	#1
guitar1580 Senior Member Join Date: December 8, 2009 Posts: 201	Military issue box ... pls help identify This is going to be my new ammo box. I'm trying to determine if it is from the Vietnam era, or WWII. I think my Dad got it from a flea market 15 or so yrs ago. The top has stenciled "BATTERY CASE FOR LF l - (2), could be L(2)...paint is light by the seam. It weighs a ton, has 20Amp 250 Volt twist lock plugs on one end, insulation inside, leather handle, metal liner in lid, vents with screens in lid. It must be a rechargeable battery pack for communications, possibly. It is very heavily constructed, and seals up very tightly with the heavy duty latches. It's been laying in the basement for years, but now that I'm back into shooting, I think it will make an excellent range / ammo box... especially after I see what the websites are selling the cheap tin boxes for! I may get rid of the plugs to make more storage space, but will have to make a metal plate to cover the holes. If you have used one of these, or can help identify it, please let me know. Thanks, Josh P

January 24, 2010, 05:17 PM	#2
Old Grump Member in memoriam Join Date: April 9, 2009 Location: Blue River Wisconsin, in Posts: 3,144	As an old Navy man from the 60's that acronym means Low altitude aircraft or low frequency radios. Just pure guess on my part but the (2) makes me think that was one of two batteries for a radio. __________________ Good intentions will always be pleaded for any assumption of power. The Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern will, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters. --Daniel Webster--

January 24, 2010, 05:49 PM	#3
jborushko Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2009 Location: Tacoma WA Posts: 469	i dont know about this one... but the sheet metal and metal's tech shops on my base will make boxes to fit anything... so this may be a custom job for proprietary equipment. just a thought obviously i could be wrong is there a nsn number on it? a 13 digit, numeric only, with or without dashes. ie: 3139-00-121-6210 __________________ EDIT: yeah i always "edit" my posts

January 25, 2010, 01:04 AM	#5
jborushko Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2009 Location: Tacoma WA Posts: 469	17 digit... thats not a nsn like i said nsn are only 13 digits long - but thats currently... im not sure about 30+ years ago __________________ EDIT: yeah i always "edit" my posts

January 25, 2010, 04:08 AM	#6
Old Grump Member in memoriam Join Date: April 9, 2009 Location: Blue River Wisconsin, in Posts: 3,144	B&H could stand for B&H Electronics Corporation which leads me back to low frequency radios. If that is the case its a manufactures ID code not a military stock number. __________________ Good intentions will always be pleaded for any assumption of power. The Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern will, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters. --Daniel Webster--

January 24, 2010, 05:56 PM	#4
guitar1580 Senior Member Join Date: December 8, 2009 Posts: 201	Yes, the number is 17 digits. It reads: B&H 092128 6780 963 5426

January 25, 2010, 07:30 PM	#7
telcomfaust Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Middletown, Connecticut Posts: 28	did some online searching last night and sent out some e-mails got this reply back: I don't know about this box, but . . . It says B&H which might mean Bell & Howell AND the number 6780 is the Federal Stock Code for Photographic sets, Kits, & Outfits so it may be the power source for some type of projector. LF-1 version 2 might be the nomenclature for the projector. Have Fun, Brooke Clarke http://www.PRC68.com __________________ Greg Emergency Dispatcher Police/Fire/EMS EMT Emergency Medical Tech State of Connecticut Carry Permit

January 25, 2010, 08:45 PM	#8
jborushko Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2009 Location: Tacoma WA Posts: 469	i tried different variations of your number in a nsn database... droping the first or last few numbers. and no go. sorry! __________________ EDIT: yeah i always "edit" my posts

January 26, 2010, 08:35 PM	#9
45Gunner Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2009 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 1,902	I think it is a transportation case for radio active material. You better get it and yourself checked out. __________________ 45Gunner May the Schwartz Be With You. NRA Instructor NRA Life Member

January 26, 2010, 08:59 PM	#10
guitar1580 Senior Member Join Date: December 8, 2009 Posts: 201	So that's why I've been glowing in the dark. Well it does sound like we're getting closer to identifying it, but I"m still wondering the age, since the numbers aren't matching up to anything. I'm hoping someone will turn up who recognizes it. Thanks to everyone who helped. Josh P