FY1953 (01 July 1952 through 31 June 1953)

In 1949 the Federal Property And Administration Services Act (PL 81-152) calls for the establishment of a common
logistics language known as the Federal Catalog System (FCS). On 01 July 1952 the Defense Cataloging and
Standardization Act (PL 82-436) is passed assigning the responsibility for creating and maintaining this system to the
Department Of Defense. The same act establishes the Federal Stock Number (FSN). One of the major reasons for the
creation of the FCS is the desire to create a more efficient inventory system within the Armed Forces. The FSN is
created in an effort to "implement the concept of a single-item identification number (e.g., all standard 40-watt light
bulbs with the same function, regardless of manufacture, were assigned the same FSN)."

Contract information, from 1953 to 1962, is presented in a numbered sequence usually beginning with the prefix DA
(Department Of The Army). There appears to be great flexibility concerning what contract information can be included
by contractors on the item's label. Some items have the entire "contract number" while others have abbreviated
versions that contain minimal information.

BODY ARMOR, FRAGMENTATION PROTECTIVE label:

FY1953 (4th quarter) contract with abbreviated information:

DA - 30 - 352 - TAP - 1708

The old Second World War-era stock number (74-A-31-240)

is still being utilized.

CARRIER, INTRENCHING TOOL, M-1943 label:

Commonly seen on individual equipment items during this

period (1953 - 1954) is the lack of contract information. The
old stock number (74-C-137) is still being utilized.

FY1954 (01 July 1953 through 31 June 1954)

BODY ARMOR, FRAGMENTATION PROTECTIVE label:

FY1954 (3rd quarter) contract with minimal information:

QM - 33419 C - 54

The old stock number (74-A-31-235) is still being utilized.

COVER, WATER CANTEEN, M-1910 label:

No contract information with old stock number (74-C-300) still

being utilized.

COVER, WATER CANTEEN, M-1910 label:

No contract information with old stock number (74-C-300) still

being utilized.