M1903s on Range in WWI

[Jim Tarleton]

Only diff between Brit B helmet and US M1917 is the method of attaching the chin strap bales; US used solid rivet and the Brits used a split rivet. Later Brit helmets added a rubber 'doughnut', sort of a shock absorbsion item. First 500K helmets used by US were Brit made.

SteveD

I thought the Brodie B did not have a rolled rim, and the M1917 was essentially a copy of the British M1916 helmet, both which have rolled brim rims. I know squat about this subject, and I had contacted someone else to explain the differences. This is what I was told (from memory):

Brodie Type A - mild steel, squashed dome, reflective, wider brim (than B), non-rolled brim rim, narrow strap
Brodie Type B - manganese steel, full dome, reflective, narrower rim, non-rolled brim rim, narrow strap
Pattern M1916 - essentially a Type B with non-reflective rough coating, cushions, wider straps, and a rolled rim
M1917 - A copy of the Pattern 1916 with a few minor changes like straps, etc

Is this correct, or am I offbase somewhere? I know zip about helmets and don't want to pretend I do. I know that to me, the British helmets do look different from the American ones, but I can't quite tell why.

Jim