1948 B2 Unit

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Cortexmelon
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1948 B2 Unit

Post by Cortexmelon » Thu Sep 12, 2019 7:06 pm

Opened up a 1948 B2 Unit to show to you guys today. This particular Era of B units hasn't to my knowledge ever been seen online, but I can always be wrong.

The contents were:
Jelly Bar
Compressed Granulated Sugar
Grape Jam
2? Crackers (they were a complete mess, can't 100% tell)
2 Soluble Coffee Product
Cookie (I got no clue on what flavor it is, sorry!)

I was in complete shock opening this, expecting for jam to be completely exploded all over inside. Turns out, this is a perfect example as you can get for a 71 year old B unit :D

Nothing was rancid, the coffee is still powder, but the cookie and crackers have been flavor tainted by the can, and now just have metallic taste. However, the cracker still had a saltine cracker like taste, but not worth eating at ALL lol. The jelly bar is hard as a rock, and didn't try anything else.
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SentientTootsieRoll
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Re: 1948 B2 Unit

Post by SentientTootsieRoll » Fri Sep 13, 2019 5:06 pm

Thanks for sharing some pics, this is pretty neat. I think the most impressive component is the sugar. I'm going to guess that's to go with the coffee, but I wonder if the texture of it is any different than what we are used to.

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Cortexmelon
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Re: 1948 B2 Unit

Post by Cortexmelon » Fri Sep 13, 2019 7:01 pm

SentientTootsieRoll wrote:
Fri Sep 13, 2019 5:06 pm
Thanks for sharing some pics, this is pretty neat. I think the most impressive component is the sugar. I'm going to guess that's to go with the coffee, but I wonder if the texture of it is any different than what we are used to.
From what little info I could find online on the web from when they started implementing a compressed sugar bar (kinda like the oatmeal cookie bar) into the K Rations in 1945, they melted away just like any normal sugar cube would apparently.

ChowLine
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Re: 1948 B2 Unit

Post by ChowLine » Tue Jan 19, 2021 11:24 pm

Really neat to see this ration opened up. I believe that this is the B-2 unit from the short lived "E" ration based on the date and markings style. I have a complete set in my collection and did a full write up on the ration on my FB page the ChowLine. Links are posted below if you want to know this history of this ration.

I do have one question, how many crackers. biscuits do you suppose were packed inside that B-2 unit? Also I would certainly be interested in acquiring the surviving internal components if possible for inclusion with my complete set.





Also, am I right to assume that this old e-bay listing preserved on worthpoint is you ration?
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ ... 2017189514

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Tedster
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Re: 1948 B2 Unit

Post by Tedster » Wed Jan 20, 2021 11:05 am

I'm impressed by the fact they include 3 gram packages of Coffee. Not one, but count 'em, Two of 'em. And enough sugar to run a small still.

By the time MCIs rolled around they were a single 2.5 gram pack. Now in the MRE they are a pathetic 2.2 grams (or less) and not even included in every meal. Have to rat$&@k a whole case pretty near to make up a cup of joe. Pathetic.

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ImTinkerbella
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Re: 1948 B2 Unit

Post by ImTinkerbella » Tue Mar 16, 2021 5:05 pm

Also, am I right to assume that this old e-bay listing preserved on worthpoint is you ration?
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ ... 2017189514
Unless I am being completely obtuse (it wouldn't be the first time), it's curious to note that the pineapple jam was listed on eBay (a la Worthpoint) as a 1948 item given that the photo indicates a zip code printed on the lid, and zip codes weren't adopted until 1963.

Perhaps it was traveling around in Doc Brown's Delorean...

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Cortexmelon
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Re: 1948 B2 Unit

Post by Cortexmelon » Tue Mar 16, 2021 7:50 pm

ImTinkerbella wrote:
Tue Mar 16, 2021 5:05 pm
Also, am I right to assume that this old e-bay listing preserved on worthpoint is you ration?
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ ... 2017189514
Unless I am being completely obtuse (it wouldn't be the first time), it's curious to note that the pineapple jam was listed on eBay (a la Worthpoint) as a 1948 item given that the photo indicates a zip code printed on the lid, and zip codes weren't adopted until 1963.

Perhaps it was traveling around in Doc Brown's Delorean...
The pineapple jam is a separate item that was listed with the main B Unit and is from a different time.

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ImTinkerbella
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Re: 1948 B2 Unit

Post by ImTinkerbella » Tue Mar 16, 2021 10:09 pm

Cortexmelon wrote:
Tue Mar 16, 2021 7:50 pm
The pineapple jam is a separate item that was listed with the main B Unit and is from a different time.
Ah... thank you, Cortexmelon. (Fun name, by the way.)

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