M1 Helmet Stand

I've been collecting US M1 helmets for years and decided I wanted to display some of them on my book shelves.
I used to collect helmets of all kinds but decided the field was to too wide so I specialized on American helmets.

I've seen helmet stands advertised on ebay but they look a little flimsy, so I built some myself last weekend using a 1 & 1/16 dowel as the support. I stained these with some ebony stain just because I had some already, but I think I'll use oak stain next time so the wood grain shows up better. These were just a first incarnation to see how they worked.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1Medium3-1.jpg

All generations of M1 helmets through modern times have a round loop in the suspension and I wanted a solid support that would fit through the loop so the weight would rest firmly on the inside and not stress the suspension.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...2Medium3-1.jpg

After I made a few of the stands I took out an asortment of helmets to represent the designs through the years. I think they look better on stands than just sitting flat on a shelf.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...3Medium3-1.jpg

I may make some that are about an inch taller for the deeper helmets from WWII onward.
Haven't decided yet, and I think I'll use oak stain. Do y'all think the ebony stain looks OK, or would oak probably look better? I already have enough wood stock to make another 20 or so stands.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...4Medium2-1.jpg

Here's a closer shot of the last three. Starting from left is a 1943 vintage fixed bale, a 1967 M1 helmet from Vietnam era, and lastly a modern K-pot or 'Fritz' as our young soldiers nicknamed it because it looks a little like a vintage German helmet.

I also thought of painting the stands OD green instead of oak stain. Any opinions of what might look best? The ebony (black) I used just because I happened to have some is kind of growing on me, and since it's so dark it kind of disappears in the shadow and doesn't take away from the subject.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../5Medium-1.jpg

Good looking display, Harlan!

Better than mine Harlan...mine's just lying in my barracks box.

NICE looking helmet "timeline" Harlan:clap:

Respect.

Lloyd

Nice stands, and I think I like the color as well. Is that a Hemmigray 42 insulator in aqua on the top shelf? BTW, I've always wanted a WWII pot like yours. Congrats on the nice set.

Bob

Holy Cow, Bob! Yes, it has Hemmingray 42 embossed on it and I didn't remember anything being there. How did you know from seeing the small photo?

I got this insulator from the top of a rotten old pole while on a bow-hunting trip in the middle of 'Nowhere, Texas'. I use a lineman climbing belt to climb trees for bow-hunting and used it to shimmy to the top of the old pole while my hunting pals laughed and kept saying they could hear the wood cracking. Most of the poles along the old route were broken or gone and there weren't any other insulators. There was also an old railroad adjacent to the poles. There was no track left but there were remnants of rotten ties and I dug up a couple of spikes out of the sand. I'm sure the insulator isn't worth $5.00 but I would not take $100 for it.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...89Medium-1.jpg

Harlan,

That's a nice lineup.

I would make some a little taller for the later helmets. Then maybe buckle the straps so they droop but do not touch the shelf. As for stain color, whatever doesn't take your eye off the displayed item. You are showing off the helmets not the stand.

I don't collect helmets. But watch out. Those that do will probably hit you up to make some for them.

Jim

After I got out of the Navy I was a lineman for a few years. Picked up a bunch of insulators for my cousin. He has them on his back fence. Prices vary. Don't think you can retire on it.:( Poles also have year dated nails in them from the date the pole was set. I have some somewhere. Not worth anything either.

Hemingray.info - The Hemingray Database: Common Styles

Hemingray 42 Aqua Blue Insulator For Sale

Vintage Hemingray 42 Aqua Blue Insulator by ohmermaidme on Etsy

Google

Thanks for the feedback Jim. I optimized the dowel stock so none was wasted and made the rest of them an inch taller.

I bought some red oak stain today so they look close to the color of a rifle stock. I can always go over it with black, but so far I think I like this color better.

After I spray on the clear coat and it dries I'll post a photo of how they look with helmets on them.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...899Small-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...900Small-1.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Harlan

Holy Cow, Bob! Yes, it has Hemmingray 42 embossed on it and I didn't remember anything being there. How did you know from seeing the small photo?

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Oh, I used to collect. My favorite, which I still display, is a clear Hemmingray 56 in mint condition.

Attachment 25274

When I was a boy, a lot of the early runs of power and telephone lines and poles were coming down. As you saw, they often purchased line rights along railroad easements. You could walk a RR line for a few hours and have your pick if you had the pluck to climb the poles.

Quote:

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I got this insulator from the top of a rotten old pole while on a bow-hunting trip in the middle of 'Nowhere, Texas'. I use a lineman climbing belt to climb trees for bow-hunting and used it to shimmy to the top of the old pole while my hunting pals laughed and kept saying they could hear the wood cracking. Most of the poles along the old route were broken or gone and there weren't any other insulators. There was also an old railroad adjacent to the poles. There was no track left but there were remnants of rotten ties and I dug up a couple of spikes out of the sand. I'm sure the insulator isn't worth $5.00 but I would not take $100 for it.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...89Medium-1.jpg

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Yeah, these things are useful for pencil cups and paper weights, all kinds of stuff. The heavy duty glass is just beautiful. Memories.

Bob