Jump to content

British WW2 Zuckerman Civil Defence Helmets


munners1975

Recommended Posts

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. 

post-38322-0-30376800-1490381406.jpg

post-38322-0-34165700-1490381364.jpg

post-38322-0-84039700-1490381314.jpg

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

post-173-0-01201400-1490390757.jpg

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

post-3823-0-70157500-1490441044.jpgpost-3823-0-80055300-1490441058.jpg

post-3823-0-10390900-1490441098.jpgpost-3823-0-00790500-1490441111.jpg

post-3823-0-61777300-1490441081.jpg

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I forgot to mention the name "Zuckerman". He is mentioned in Wikipedia, but no mention of the helmet he designed.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 years later...

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.

89855222-0CEC-423A-816E-7298B41AB83B.jpeg

C3C5F2C4-503C-47BA-9F86-2F5124FE08C3.jpeg

F076CF4C-53CD-48F0-AE19-95D455E61A5D.jpeg

C787EAF8-2695-4DBA-B763-C8F7F16C0931.jpeg

B48C51A8-6755-44D9-91B4-88D60C2F919E.jpeg

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome Steve, yes its fine to post here, nice helmet by the way!

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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 :thumbsup:   

 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Kenny Andrew pinned and featured this topic

Welcome to the forum, does it have a makers stamp mark on the inside of the shell.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

Zuc (3).jpg

Zuc (1).jpg

Zuc (2).jpg

Zuc (4).jpg

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

AMC (1).jpg

AMC (2).jpg

AMC (3).jpg

C.C.&S Co 1941.jpg

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...

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.

s-l1600[3].jpg

s-l1600[6].jpg

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Brewery - I suppose this was worn by a form of Werksfeuerwehr or Werksluftschutz?

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes more than likely one of their own workers acting as a fire watcher.

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well at least this helmet is easy to trace, it would have been used in Edinburgh  

McEwan's_Beer_advert_1906.jpgOriginal_artwork_for_McEwan's_Scotch_Ale_(4203788374).jpg17966-1-cone-top-mcewan-red-label-sparkling-beer-can.jpg23593-1-mcewans-export-ipa-can.jpg

 

 

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...

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.

WVS (1).jpg

WVS (2).jpg

WVS (3).jpg

WVS (4).jpg

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's another Fire Guard Helmet stamped EC & Co = E Camelinat & Co Ltd of Birmingham 4/1941 size ( M ), no liner marks.

EC&Co 1941 (2).jpg

EC&Co 1941 (3).jpg

EC&Co 1941 (1).jpg

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Here's Another Civil Defence helmet stamped Bomb Disposal on front of helmet unable to read any marks.

Photo's from other sources.

Zim (1).jpg

Zim (2).jpg

Zim (3).jpg

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

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.

AMC 1941 (2).jpg

AMC 1941 (3).jpg

AMC 1941 (1).jpg

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...