WWII U.S. Navy BuAer Permutit Drinking Water Desalting Kit

Scarce WWII-era emergency survival drinking water kit made by The Permutit Co., New York under BuAer Contract NOa(S) 3124. Designed for life raft/sea survival use, the kit chemically treated seawater to produce drinkable water. The front notes it contained chemical packets, a plastic bag, and repair tape; back gives emergency instructions for using the can itself if the desalting bag was lost.

Marked 5721 on the top. Developed with cooperation of the Naval Medical Research Institute. These were part of WWII military survival/desalting development for personnel at sea; museum examples date this style to about 1944.  

Condition: very good display condition with original printed tin/canister, cord, age toning, minor edge wear, and some top tape/cover wear. Contents not confirmed, so sell as collectible/display only.