This is an original WW2 U.S. Army Signal Corps hydrogen balloon inflating tube, issued for use with the M-315-B chemical hydrogen generator. The tube formed part of a field communication system used to inflate small signal and observation balloons, allowing aerials or signalling devices to be raised quickly in operational environments without the need for compressed gas cylinders.

The inflating tube was a critical component of the M-315-B system, acting as both the gas delivery tube and the insulated handle used while the generator was active in water. Its design allowed hydrogen gas produced by the chemical reaction within the generator can to be safely directed into the balloon while keeping the operator clear of the reacting container.

This example is particularly noteworthy for retaining its original instruction tag, still attached. The tag provides detailed wartime operating instructions and safety warnings, including guidance on balloon attachment, generator handling, and hydrogen hazards. Such tags are most commonly encountered loose or missing entirely, making surviving tubes with original tags uncommon.

As a standalone component, this piece represents a seldom-seen element of U.S. Signal Corps balloon equipment and offers strong appeal to collectors of WW2 communications gear, technical military equipment, and documented Signal Corps artefacts.

As stated, it has the original tag which was often around the generator can itself. The handle has no scratches, dings or dents and impressively the tube itself is also in good condition, minor wear and surface scratches only. While we don’t have the right components to check the threading on the end, it appears to be undamaged as you can see in the photos.

These pieces are very scarce to find by themselves, and even more tricky to find in this condition, often discarded or lost once separated from the disposable generator can, making surviving examples particularly hard to find.