| The gas mask as we know it today evolved | | | | was issued to one Lewis P. Haslett for a device |
| from inventions over time that were intended for | | | | constructed to exclude smoke and other solid |
| use by deep sea divers, firefighters and mine | | | | particles from the breathed air and gas mask |
| workers. A popular misconception about the gas | | | | manufacturing began in earnest in the United |
| mask was that it was invented by Garrett A. | | | | States. In 1854 Scottish chemist John Stenhouse |
| Morgan in 1914. Morgan's invention didn't resemble | | | | invented a simple mask that used charcoal to |
| anything remotely like today's mask and was | | | | filter noxious gases. In 1871 and 1874 two British |
| simply a hood with a breathing tube that hung to | | | | inventors produced devices that removed solid |
| the floor so a firefighter could draw breath from | | | | particles and noxious gases from the air using a |
| the lower, cleaner layers of air while fighting a fire. | | | | full hood over the head and tubes connected to a |
| It was later adapted for mine rescues where the | | | | canister of slightly pressurized oxygen. In 1914 |
| tubes could be manipulated to avoid flooded mine | | | | Garrett Morgan invented a device that gained |
| tunnels or gas filled pockets. The question of who | | | | national prominence when it was used to rescue |
| invented the gas mask is to this day not easily | | | | 32 mineworkers trapped far beneath the surface |
| answered. | | | | in flooded mining caverns. |
| WW1 definitely started the mass production of | | | | All of these devices came together on that |
| modern gas masks designed to protect soldiers | | | | fateful day in 1915 in France when chemical |
| from chemical attack. Without WW1 and the use | | | | weapons were used on a large scale for the first |
| of chlorine and mustard gas as a weapon by the | | | | time. From that moment on, the gas mask was |
| German Army, gas masks would have not have | | | | no longer a safety device just for firefighters and |
| taken up such a prominent place in the history of | | | | mine workers. From that moment on the gas |
| the world. | | | | mask was a crucial element in the fight for |
| Here is a list of some of the inventions and | | | | freedom. Who invented the gas mask? You might |
| patents issued to a long line of gas mask | | | | say it was necessity - after all, she is the mother |
| inventors throughout history. In 1848 a US Patent | | | | of all invention. |