---
title: 'Save your cans: help pass the ammunition'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/save-your-cans-pass-the-ammunition-1942/
description: A soldier in a helmet fires a water-cooled machine gun beside a fire and smoke, its ammunition belt made of tin cans, the nearest labelled with a tomato.
section: Collection
---

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3. Save your cans: help pass the ammunition

[![Save your cans: help pass the ammunition, 1942 US poster: A soldier in a helmet fires a water-cooled machine gun beside](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/save-your-cans-pass-the-ammunition-1942.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/save-your-cans-pass-the-ammunition-1942.jpg)

# Save your cans: help pass the ammunition

A soldier in a helmet fires a water-cooled machine gun beside a fire and smoke, its ammunition belt made of tin cans, the nearest labelled with a tomato. A woman's hand holds the next can out. Headline 'SAVE YOUR CANS', then 'Help pass the Ammunition'. The belt of cans is a transfer from the household can to the weapon.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Transfer](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/transfer/)

## Text on the object

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

```
SAVE YOUR CANS
Help pass the Ammunition
PREPARE YOUR TIN CANS
FOR WAR
1 REMOVE TOPS AND BOTTOMS
2 TAKE OFF PAPER LABELS
3 WASH THOROUGHLY
4 FLATTEN FIRMLY
[signature: McCLELLAND BARCLAY USNR]
[imprint: SALVAGE DIVISION, WAR PRODUCTION BOARD]
```

[← Save waste fats](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/save-waste-fats-1942/) [Save your scraps to bomb the Japs →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/save-your-scraps-to-bomb-the-japs-1942/)

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