Early 1950's Motorcycle Helmet

While looking in my attic recently I came across my late father's early 1950's motorcycle helmet which I thought others here may like to see since there are a few bike enthusiasts on this forum. I think that it is fair to say that it doesn't quite meet modern day safety standards but apparently it is A.C.U. approved which I understand it had to be in order for the wearer to take part in any UK motorcycle sport.

It does look very similar to the WW2 British dispatch rider's helmet which is perhaps not surprising since it was made only a few years after WW2.

If you have a bit of a look, you may have already, you'll find Cromwell made helmets for WW2. They made dispatch helmets and I'm not sure about Brodie or Jump helmets...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Flying10uk

While looking in my attic recently I came across my late father's early 1950's motorcycle helmet which I thought others here may like to see since there are a few bike enthusiasts on this forum. I think that it is fair to say that it doesn't quite meet modern day safety standards but apparently it is A.C.U. approved which I understand it had to be in order for the wearer to take part in any UK motorcycle sport.

It does look very similar to the WW2 British dispatch rider's helmet which is perhaps not surprising since it was made only a few years after WW2.

---

20 years ago+, I used to ride my 1940 BSA WD-M20 wearing one of these modern new build version of that, made by Davida.

https://www.davida-helmets.com/pages/classic-helmet

I've also got 2 pairs of goggles which I'll have to dig out and photograph.

This was in use when Men worked on nuclear weapons shirtless smoking cigarettes in the desert. As well as strapped themselves to rocket sleds just to see what happened to the human body under extreme G loads. Aka, The Good’ol days.

Being an A.C.U. (Auto Cycle Union) Approved helmet, meaning that the helmet pictured in post 1 could be used in UK motorcycle sport perhaps suggests that it offered a little more protection to the wearer than a "standard-every-day" helmet of the day. Exactly what extra protection it may have offered is not entirely clear to me.

That is a well-made lid!

jn