How to Handle a G.I. Range
Army kitchen instruction sheet: a cartoon coal range salutes in a speech balloon (Yes, Sir!) above a drawing of the stove with three labelled arrows and ten numbered rules. The technique is faint: the range is given a soldier's voice and gesture, which attaches military discipline to fuel-saving chores.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1944
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- U.S. Army Conservation Program
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Military
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Own forces
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- War and the military, Home front
- Event
- World War II
- Regime
- Roosevelt administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Posters, retrieved October 4, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work)
U.S. Army Conservation Program. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-1019 (NAID 514545).
Text on the object
YES, SIR! NO BURNT FOOD NO UNDERCOOKING NO BAKING FAILURES MEALS ON TIME! HOW TO HANDLE A G.I. RANGE CLEAN OUT DAILY The slots in firebox liner The ash drawer Under the oven KEEP REAR DAMPER CLOSED except when adding coal Cook with the heat . . . don't waste it up the flue DON'T SMOTHER THE FIRE Add small amounts of fuel frequently through front fire door Shake gently! [on stove:] U.S. [logo:] U.S. ARMY SAVE CONSERVATION PROGRAM U. S. ARMY CONSERVATION PROJECT No. 125-E-30 [imprint:] U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1944 O - 617339 TO EFFICIENTLY OPERATE COAL-BURNING KITCHEN RANGES FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS 1 Start a new fire every day---you'll get faster heat. 2 Be sure the grate is flat side up---if the ribbed side is up it will clog and choke off air supply to fire. 3 Set the front damper and check draft in flue pipe to give fire just enough draft to burn properly. 4 Add only a double handful of coal frequently through the front fire door. Burn all the coal. 5 Shake down the ashes several times daily by slightly rocking the grate---don't dump good coal. Don't poke ashes through the grate with a poker. 6 Keep the ash drawer cleaned out---give the fire fresh air. 7 Keep the rear damper closed except when adding coal---don't send all the heat up the flue. 8 Clean out the slots in the firebox liners at least every day---coal will not burn without air. 9 Clean out all ashes from drawer firebox and oven every day---you won't get bottom oven heat unless you do. 10 Clean out the fine ash and soot from under the top of oven daily. THIS POSTER TO BE DISPLAYED IN ALL KITCHENS WHERE COAL-BURNING RANGES ARE USED Distribution : C (1); No oversea distribution. For explanation of symbols, see FM 21-6
