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One of those weird items I spotted years ago, wanted and never found one that the price and condition were right.
Finally checked it off my want list.
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I've got several Zuckerman helmets in my home front collection in various sizes and by the various makers. They could be supplied in several different colours but the most common colour found is grey. I did find an original black coloured example a few years ago.
The last picture shows my own family's Zuckerman helmets which were purchased when they became available to the public and after my family had already been bombed. There is also my grandfather's air raid warden's helmet. These 4 helmets got repainted by my late father around 25 years ago.
Sometimes there is the original owner's name written in pen under the leather headband of the liner.
So...help me here. These were issued for jobs not combat related like ARW or ARP and perhaps fireman? Non hardened steel and easy to manufacture. These are magnetic then?
Yes Zuckerman helmets were issued for certain jobs like fire watchers and first aiders but they could also be purchased by the general public as my family did, purchasing 3. Certain categories of job that were considered "high risk" like fire fighters, police and air raid wardens got the standard front line helmet. People doing less "high risk" jobs might get the "non front line" "Brodie helmet". The black helmet on my shelf marked FAP, for First Aid Party, is an example being a non front line Brodie, i.e. magnetic. As more front line helmets became available more got issued to the civilian services.
Photos added. The National Fire Service helmet, although repainted, still has it's original wartime "Decals"/Badges. Note also the early type of helmet liner with round centre pad.
I love hanging around here... You all make me feel more "normal":rofl:
The US counterpart is the white civil defense helmet which a lot of people misidentify..
Seen on the top of my helmet shelves, these axes were made for the UK Civil Defence during WW2 for rescue work and featured an insulated rubber handle tested to 20,000 volts. Personally I wouldn't wish to test the accuracy of that statement.
The other axe seen on the shelf was privately purchased by my grandfather and used by him for rescue work when on duty as an air raid warden during WW2.
But they're different material aren't they?Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
Those are neat. You never see them here.Quote:
Originally Posted by Flying10uk
The US Civil Defense helmets are made of steel. Not sure what kind but they are steel. I would say they are better made than the Zuckerman's, the liner is more permanent. They are not combat quality, however. I have a couple of them, I see them a lot at yard sales but don't buy them unless really cheap.
Most are just white but some have Civil Defense codes on them similar to the Zuckerman's
So US Civil Defence helmets didn't all have the US Civil Defence badge on the front of it?Quote:
Originally Posted by Aragorn243
No, in all the years I've been collecting, I've never found one with a badge (painted symbol) on it. So the majority were just painted white. They are also pretty common. I see several at yard sales every summer and a lot of them at the antique shops. If I found one with a badge, I'd buy it if reasonable, but I just don't find them. There are a lot of different badges on them. I think I have three of them currently. One was the first i ever found, is in horrible shape, was all dented which I got most out but the paint was mostly gone and it was rusted badly. I think I paid $5 for it, didn't know how common they were and figured I'd restore it. The next two are progressively nicer with the third being in very good shape. I don't think I paid more than $20 for either of them. One is sitting with some other helmets upstairs, the rough one is buried in the basement somewhere and I think the third is in a box in the attic.
When I see one, I always check for a badge, but no luck. I'd even buy a rough shape one if I found a badge.
I have proven myself to be wrong and forgetful. After yesterday's purchase of the large medical chests, I spent part of the afternoon taking things out of large plastic storage bins and putting them into the new containers. I found the second of my Civil Defense helmets and it does indeed have a painted logo on it. This is the symbol of an air raid warden. So I have found ONE helmet in all my years of looking. Still has the price tag on it, $20 at a yard sale.
I had this bright idea of inventorying the chests as I loaded them but ended up not doing so. I found all sorts of things I forgot I had. A lot of canteens, three of the small ovens, most of my British gear. Inventory will have to wait until I get things better organized. These containers are great but they will be impossible to move. I had a difficult time filling the upper half and getting them stacked.
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