American Helmet 'Time-Line'

[AZPhil]

Thanks Harlan for sharing your pic's and knowledge !!!!!
Excellent display!!!!!

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Attachment 34408Attachment 34409Ok ,collection started with what (though not a fine example) will always be my fovorite as it was worn by my maternal grandfather in the PTO in WWII. The chin strap is the fixed bail type so I think I will leave as is ,as I could not bring myself to cut what is left off. Perhaps a liner stap and it will be complete. Also have his dress cap and wool knit cap if I can come up with a way to display them without further damage.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Terrific set! That helmet has swivel bales - The Military called them 'flexible loops', but nobody in the collecting world ever calls them that.

The other, earlier bales are known as 'Fixed Bale' and the looped wire is welded directly to the surface so it won't 'swivel'. LOTS of them broke off in the first year they were produced, so they changed them in construction and in the field to swivel bale too. They say they think many GI's broke theirs off by using the helmet shell as a seat when not is a battle area.

I would not worry about doing anything to the suspension, or the shell - Many suspensions not as nice as yours is in, and still command pretty good prices. Even more if there are signs of wear that makes it look like the Shell and Liner have been together for a long time such as old rub marks or old discolorations from rest that match each other.

Did you ever say what maker it is? It may be small, but every helmet will have a marking inside the crown that shows the maker marks. Rarer makers command higher prices, just like anything else in the milsurp world. Replacing the suspension would be like taking a nice, all correct milsurp and sporting it out by cutting off the barrel and drilling the receiver for a scope mount.

Here are two of mine - The mark is easier to feel that to see sometimes. Once I find where it is, near the crown, I shine a mini-mag light from the side, and put my camera in with the lens just past the center suspension hole. Sometimes it looks much better after taking a photo that you can see.

This is a Westinghouse with the little Westinghouse there in the crown.(Highest produced of all)


Also - If you replace the suspension straps it would lose most all of it's collector value. There are kits made to overhaul liners and shells, but the kits cost as much as the original set is worth now, and you'll end up with a liner and helmet few people would pay more than $25 or so. Yours is worth at least $100 now, and WWII helmets are skyrocketing in price. I would also advise NOT to paint the outer side with anything We know an original paint and an Amy repaint, from a modern repaint. A helmet collector can almost always tell any original from a Fake, or helmet just messed with. (It's easier to learn that guns).

If you display it the same way I have mine, you'll only see the 'body' (shell) and the helmet chinstraps anyway.

I hope this helps.
~ Harlan

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Harlin
The fact this one sat on my grandads head all those years ago would preclude me from any inclination to deface it in any way and hopefully my nephews will appreciate it as I do. My Vietnam era might be a diffrent story simply due to the fact I defaced it pretty badly as a kid "playing army" with it as a kid and it may need some resto to be displayed(or perhaps I could put a cammo cover on it.). I will post pictures of it also along with makers if I can spot them.Did you mix up your photos? The first photo looks like a party barge.That second one looks to be Kokura? I caught the fixed vs swivel bail shortly after I posted.
Thanks as always.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

I just came back here and I don't know HOW that happened with the photos! Those are very old photos in Phobuckel - I had just uploaded new pictures to assist you, and they looked good after I posted. (??)

Just reloaded the photos here and hope they stay there!

YES, I would put a cover on it and it'll look great! Almost all Vietnam helmets around that I've seen have the cover. They usually sell fro anywhere from $20 in poor condition to $100 in mint condition. I have two mint ones (I didn't pay the high premium for) that I just decided to keep. I cleaned off the original covers in the gentle cycle mode of my washing machine and they came out pretty good.

NOTE - I just checked Photobucket and it's down - probably having technical issues.

[ABPOS]

This is a great thread. Thank you!!! I have to get my helmet and see what era it is. Did they WWII helmets have a plastic liner? Mine is all rough on the outside also.

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It has taken a while but here it is my Harlin insired display. Vietnam era M1 on the left,my grandfather's M1/pistol belt/watch cap/dress cap/pipe and photo in a nice glass and wood case I found cheap at a local Michael's craft store. Top shelf is my fathers burial flag with a photo of him in his cracker jack suit along with a postcard home and Amphibous Forces patch.
I hope my nephews treasure this stuff as much as I do after I am gone.
PS Harlan
I borrowed your homade stand idea. $4 in materials (Michael's also) and fifteen min. of my time. I went with a wider base because of the glass shelves. Tip over could be catastrophic.

[alktrio06]

All I can say is, "Badass!"

[gijills]

fine helmet collection. I seem to have gotten into collecting helmets and canteens. I have a fair amount of WW II My Vietnam era helmet I wore in Panama and a few of the newer ones. I intermixed some of the foreign ones in there also.
here is a link.
Collection pictures by gijills - Photobucket
Skip

[Harlan (Deceased)]

WOW! You guys are showing me up!

Very impressive and tasteful display HOOKED ON HISTORY. Good job on the stand - Just as nice as the $20-$30 stands on ebay, and it feels good to do your own work.
Your personal connection with the items make your display the most valuable of all!

SUPER collection gijills! I love how you've collected items of the same period/nationality as your rifles. The German helmet with the Luftwaffe decal on the top shelf makes me green with envy!

NICE work guys!
~ Harlan