Objects Database

French (M52) Mess Tins

Accession Number

1711.2023.1

Object Name

French (M52) Mess Tins

Created

21/06/2023

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

21/06/2023

Brief Description

Set of three French mess tins with carrying handle

Materials

Metal

Dimensions

17x14cms 14x13cms 15 x11cms

Number Of Objects

3

Inscription Description

“MMT 1953 TOURNUS”

Colour

Silver

Maker

MMT

Object Production Place

France

Provenance

There are several meanings of the word “mess”, though in the context of mess tins it would seem to derive from an old french word ‘mes’ meaning a dish. That fits rather nicely since the set of mess tins we have here in the collection are French.
The world’s armies have been eating out of various receptacles since the beginning ot time and somewhere along the way the receptacles became mess tins.
The French army updated their mess tins in 1952 hence the M52 designation and decided to have three tins instead of two, no doubt reflecting the ‘haute cuisine’ of the French catering corps.
They are very well made by the French company MMT (Manufacturing Metallurgique de Tournus) in 1953, only a year after the new designation/ design.

Acquisition Method

Donated by Hermione Cooper

Acquisition Date

21/06/2023

Condition Check Date

21/06/2023

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

21/06/2023

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