---
title: Handle with care!
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/handle-with-care-compressed-gas-navy-1944/
description: 'Navy Department safety poster on compressed-gas cylinders: a smiling cartoon workman in a hard hat holds a cylinder marked ''Compressed Gas'' beside'
section: Collection
---

1. [Home](https://propagandaarchive.org/)
2. [Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/)
3. Handle with care!

[![Handle with care!, 1944 US poster: Navy Department safety poster on compressed-gas cylinders](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/handle-with-care-compressed-gas-navy-1944.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/handle-with-care-compressed-gas-navy-1944.jpg)

# Handle with care!

Navy Department safety poster on compressed-gas cylinders: a smiling cartoon workman in a hard hat holds a cylinder marked 'Compressed Gas' beside the question 'Why risk explosions?'. Five small panels give handling rules. The technique is faint: a friendly cartoon everyman delivers plain instructions (plain-folks).

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Plain folks](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/plain-folks/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
HANDLE
WITH
CARE!
WHY
RISK
EXPLOSIONS?
COMPRESSED GAS
SECURE IN PROPER
RACKS TO PREVENT
FALLING OVER
USE CRADLES WHEN
LIFTING CYLINDERS
WITH CRANES
USE TRUCKS TO
CONVEY CYLINDERS
WHEN IN USE
OIL
OIL
OXYGEN
STORE SAFELY AND
AWAY FROM OIL
[signature: Thorndike]
NAVY DEPARTMENT SAFETY POSTER
N681
[imprint: U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1944-O-599126]
```

[← Handle With Care](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/handle-with-care-1944/) [Harvest legume & grass seed →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/harvest-legume-and-grass-seed-1944/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [Trois Tetes sous l'meme bonnet (three heads under the same cap)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/trois-tetes-sous-le-meme-bonnet-1789/) (France · 1789 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['This log cabin was the first building erected on the North Bend', Whig print by T. Sinclair, 1840](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/harrison-north-bend-log-cabin-sinclair-1840/) (United States · 1840 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [Treeing Coons (pro-Polk cartoon), 1844](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/treeing-coons-polk-1844/) (United States · 1844 · Name-calling, Plain folks)
- [Zachary Taylor, People's Candidate for President (Currier banner), 1848](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/taylor-fillmore-peoples-candidate-1848/) (United States · 1848 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['Little Mac.' (from the Democratic presidential campaign songster)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/little-mac-song-sheet-feeks-1864/) (United States · 1864 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The peoples' choice, H. Greeley G. Brown](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/peoples-choice-greeley-brown-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The working-man's banner. For President, Ulysses S. Grant, 'The Galena Tanner.' For Vice-President, Henry Wilson, 'The Natick Shoemaker.'](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/working-mans-banner-grant-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [The Chappaqua farmer](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/chappaqua-farmer-1872/) (United States · Jul 1872 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)