centurion Posted 19 June , 2010 Share Posted 19 June , 2010 Before WW1 there was a well known comic book super hero known as Boiler Plate - in a way a predecessor to Iron Man. Boiler Plate was an armoured mechanical man (the word Robot did not yet exist), There was a Boiler Plate magazine in which the character took part in just about every war going starting with the Peking Legation Siege. As a publicity stunt Boiler Plate was built and photographed with many current celebrities. These two were taken in 1910 and 1916 respectively (With Jack Johnson and Pancho Villa) http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images0...33eb8a03769.jpg http://www.bigredhair.com/boilerplate/soldier/bp.pancho.jpg Note Boiler Plate wore a 'Brodie' well before the Brodie existed. Its a long shot but was there any connection - did one influence in any way the design of the other? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulgranger Posted 19 June , 2010 Share Posted 19 June , 2010 Film depictions of anything around the time of Henry V often depict the ordinary 'infantryman' wearing a metal helmet of Brodie shape, which, if based on fact, would seem to predate Boiler Plate by some years. However, I'm prepared to accept that the film depictions may be based on WW1 photos. Still, there has been some comment that the Stahlhelm shape was suggested by a helmet worn by a knight in a Durer engraving, so the late Middle Ages may have had something to do with head protection in the Great War. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 19 June , 2010 Author Share Posted 19 June , 2010 There was a medieval helmet (worn by men at arms - quite a step up from common footmen) not unlike the Brodie but nowhere near as close as the Boiler Plate version. It was more like a bowl with a flat brim - they didn't/couldn't produce the curved transition that you see on the Brodie. I take your point on the Stahlhelm although helmets like this pre date Durer by probably a century Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMcNay Posted 19 June , 2010 Share Posted 19 June , 2010 You do know that Boiler Plate is a notorious hoax, don't you? It's a modern-day recreation of a vintage comic... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 19 June , 2010 Author Share Posted 19 June , 2010 You do know that Boiler Plate is a notorious hoax, don't you? It's a modern-day recreation of a vintage comic... And the photos? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMcNay Posted 21 June , 2010 Share Posted 21 June , 2010 Photoshop. Do a google search for "museum of hoaxes". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janecavell Posted 21 June , 2010 Share Posted 21 June , 2010 Boiler Plate even went as far as Antarctica, apparently: http://www.bigredhair.com/boilerplate/arctic/index.html . . . amazing what you can do with Photoshop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grovetown Posted 21 June , 2010 Share Posted 21 June , 2010 Seemingly created in 2000. Boilerplate history GT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobL Posted 21 June , 2010 Share Posted 21 June , 2010 Very entertaining though - hadn't been on the website for a number of years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tocemma Posted 21 June , 2010 Share Posted 21 June , 2010 I'm relieved to see that Boilerplate does not rust in peace on the Champs de Bataille. At the end of the war he met an attractive French girl from Paris, shown in this rare archive photo. They went on to have many children and some strapping grandchildren, shown in the charming family photograph below. C'est magnifique, toutes mes félicitations! Tocemma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 21 June , 2010 Share Posted 21 June , 2010 Heres the black sheep of the family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tocemma Posted 21 June , 2010 Share Posted 21 June , 2010 Nice one I didn't think of that one... Tocemma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janecavell Posted 21 June , 2010 Share Posted 21 June , 2010 Heres the black sheep of the family. They're even branded with the BoilerPlate family crest (bp) !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobL Posted 21 June , 2010 Share Posted 21 June , 2010 If I was Boilerplate, my metal sides would have been split by laughter long ago! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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