munners1975 Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 I've recently moved to an address in Surrey. After doing work to the garden i found this helmet. Any ideas what this is and dates? I know that the Canadian army had a base near where i lived. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 This is a wartime "Fire Watcher" helmet (not army) - of light construction and the liner was held in by a string-lace system all round using the holes around the top edge of the brim as seen in the photo. Probably don't often turn up nowadays - it still has the original paintwork, so don't overpaint this. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
munners1975 Posted March 24, 2017 Author Share Posted March 24, 2017 Thank you so much. Dates? What was it used for? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 Firewatchers: During the Blitz, similar to ARP organisation, mostly volunteer civilians, on the lookout for potential air raids - this helmet was more of a provisional construction and not for military use http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30092494 You can read more on this on above link to an Imperial War Museum exhibit with description, but no picture. The description fits your piece in the construction, various paintwork and badges were used, mostly without a badge as your example. Description of Imperial War Museum example: Around the helmet are a series of punched holes through which is threaded a length of cord similar to a shoelace. The white tape and leather liner is secured to the shell by this cord. Photo: As well as working in a factory and being a member of the Air Training Corps, 19 year old George Metcalfe also spends time as a fire watcher. He is on duty once every ten days, and can be seen here in tin hat and ‘Fire Guard’ brassard patrolling his ‘beat’ around Norwood, London 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 Welcome to the forum Munners 1975, the helmet is commonly called a Zuckerman Helmet after its designer Professor Solly Zuckerman,and was used by Fire Watchers, Fire Guards, Supplementary Fire Party members or even civilians. The helmet you have is made by the Pressed Steel Company of Cowley Oxford and dated 3/1941. Here are photo's of Zuckerman Helmets and the trademark of PSC of Cowley.and instruction leaflet. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 I forgot to mention the name "Zuckerman". He is mentioned in Wikipedia, but no mention of the helmet he designed. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveB Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 Hi, I’m new to this site, hope it’s ok to post a Zuckerman on this thread? I do have some Brodies which I will add once I liberate them from my loft! Steve. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gildwiller1918 Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 Welcome Steve, yes its fine to post here, nice helmet by the way! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveB Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 Thank you 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Andrew Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 Hi Steve, welcome to the forum, no problem to post Zuckermans here, in fact I have just renamed this thread so from now on this thread can be used to post Zuckerman helmets 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveB Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 Excellent, I’m sure I have a couple more, I’ll post once found 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 Welcome to the forum, does it have a makers stamp mark on the inside of the shell. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 Here we have a good example of a Zuckerman helmet dated 5/1941 and made by PSC = Pressed Steel Company of Cowley Oxford. Has a size 7 liner made by BMB = Briggs Motor Bodies Ltd of Dagenham and dated 1941. The helmets were only made in two sizes and stamped with a M ( medium ) or L ( large ). Photo's from other sources. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted September 7, 2020 Share Posted September 7, 2020 Here we have a Zuckerman helmet stamped 1/1941 AMC = Austin Motors Co of Longbridge Cowley fitted with a liner by C.C.& S Ltd unknown maker at this time? Photo's from other sources. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 Here we have a Zuckerman helmet stamped RO&CO 9/41 = Rubery Owen & Co Ltd of Leeds. Has the name McEwan Brewery On front of helmet, liner is stamped but can't read the name of maker. Photo's from other sources. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 Brewery - I suppose this was worn by a form of Werksfeuerwehr or Werksluftschutz? 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted January 3, 2021 Share Posted January 3, 2021 Yes more than likely one of their own workers acting as a fire watcher. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Andrew Posted January 4, 2021 Share Posted January 4, 2021 Well at least this helmet is easy to trace, it would have been used in Edinburgh 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted June 17, 2021 Share Posted June 17, 2021 Here's a interesting helmet stamped PSC = Pressed Steel Company 3/1941, on the front of helmet is painted WVS, ARP, F.G , so this lady was a member of the Women's Volunteer Service ( Civil Defence ) also a member of the Air Raid Precautions and doing her turn as a Fire Guard also. The liner is made by George Streeton & Son Ltd of Luton and dated 1941, helmet size ( M ). Photo's from other sources. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted June 17, 2021 Share Posted June 17, 2021 Here's another Fire Guard Helmet stamped EC & Co = E Camelinat & Co Ltd of Birmingham 4/1941 size ( M ), no liner marks. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted July 4, 2021 Share Posted July 4, 2021 Here's Another Civil Defence helmet stamped Bomb Disposal on front of helmet unable to read any marks. Photo's from other sources. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted July 13, 2021 Share Posted July 13, 2021 Here's another helmet Stamped AMC = Austin Motor Co and dated 2/1941 , has an interesting label under liner which reads ( The Chief Constable A.R.P. Stores Jacksons Row Manchester 2 Lancs. ) has no maker marks on liner. Photo's from other sources. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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