Late production Mk I helmet with sponge rubber crown

[Chasemuseum]

With other posts on British helmets I thought that this may be of interest. Maker "HS"  Hadfields Steel 

Cheers

RT

 

 

 

 

Edited 30 June , 2019 by Chasemuseum
spelling

[JMB1943]

Ross,

 

This is the first helmet photo that I have seen with the rubber crown intact.

I would expect it to be pretty crumbly by now---is it?

Also, was it made with the asbestos pad that the early production helmets have?

Anyway, a nice-looking survivor!

 

Regards,

JMB

[Chasemuseum]

Yes the rubber is crumbly and I am very careful of it. It does not appear to have the asbestos pad but I am not prepared to pry it up to look properly so this is not a definitive answer. THe revised design of the head band using woven hessian is also interesting.

Cheers

Ross

[Dai Bach y Sowldiwr]

Is that a solid rubber pad or sponge/foam rubber?

Wikipedia (which may be wrong) states that the latter wasn't invented until 1929?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foam_rubber

[Chasemuseum]

It is a sponge/foam rubber. You will also see foam rubbers used in various British gas goggles and in the PHG anti-gas hood/gasmask. Also various armour goggles has a backing of a foam rubber.  There were definitely multiple foam rubber products in use during WW1.

 

If you look at the references in the Wikipedia article, the Dunlop Patent of 1929 #US1929603 is for an improved process in the manufacture of a foam rubber, to produce a superior product and makes reference to the existing products.

Cheers

Ross 

[Dai Bach y Sowldiwr]

Thanks for that clarification.