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Hello Everyone, I’m new to this. I’ve got a few questions about a helmet I bought many years ago. It has a new liner (reproduction) but I’d like to be sure what the shell is. I found it in the US. It seems to be a First World War Brodie. Reading this forum was very helpful. There's a wealth of expertise here! So here’s what I noticed: • It has the split pins to attach chin strap and the liner, with soldered hoops. The hoops came with the helmet. • The paint looks very original, with brush marks, and some attempt at camouflage. It has the sandy finish. • A stamping appears on the inner rim. It seems to be 118 and then it has a large I with a 4 and another large I. I hope the pictures show what I mean. • The brown felt pad at the top seems to have a rubber donut under it, as far as my prying fingers can tell, which would make it 1917 or later, I think? Any advice is most gratefully accepted. Best wishes, Allan

Here we have two examples from the Scottish regions of the NFS. Western No 1 -HQ in Glasgow = No 1 Fire Force. Western No 2 -HQ in Paisley = No 2 Fire Force.

Many thanks to Clueless Tommy and to Fritz for your very helpful replies. I've had a look at the list of makers and tried to match them to the stampings on the helmet rim, but it's not easy to make any sort of match. I may have to take some sandpaper to it and see if that reveals anything clearer - although I think that's a last ditch remedy. Truly, this is a fascinating hobby! Best wishes, Allan

Hello, I believe your shell is British made as it uses the split rivets to hold on the chin strap lugs. These proved easy to break so the Americans used a different type on their 1917 helmets. So it could be that this was a British made helmet given to the Americans soon after their entry to the war or a British helmet that ended up in America. I have attached a picture of the the rivet on a shell that is definitely American. I also new to this so you may want to wait for others to comment. If you haven’t read it already there is a thread on makers marks in the forum that lists British, commonwealth and American stamps that you may want to look at, I’ll try to work out how to link it in a minute. Regards, Jack

Here's an interesting film Britain's Fire Service at War 1939-1945. Including 400 Canadian Voluntary Fireman who served in Britain from 1942-1945.

Here's another film the Auxiliary Fire Service 1930s

I fixed the link on your film Jack, here's another interesting film and although not NFS it is related being Civil Defense it's the first time I've seen the Civil Defense helmets being worn in a film.

The vehicle in the picture is a Austin K2 Auxiliary Towing Vehicle (ATV) the suffix ATV was likely added after the war as there is no period evidence of it, 20,000 were ordered by the government in 1941 however few arrived in time for the height of the Blitz, They remained in service till 1970 with some regional fire services. I've attached a link to the page where I read all that it goes into good detail for anyone interested. http://www.romar.org.uk/page381.html regards, Jack

Thanks, I believe she lived in Cricklewood, north west London, on the side of the truck in the photo there is NFS badge and below it two lines of writing, I think the number 34 is the start of the uppermost line. So from the chart you posted above could be for Ealing. Although it could just be part of a larger number and not related to the area code, so I'm just about to look and see if i can find any pictures of NFS trucks to see what is written on the sides. Regards, Jack I have found a film on the NFS but cannot view it as I don't have the right player but hopefully the link will copy okay below

Nice photo jack do you know what area she lived in ?