Edoguy1305 Posted December 10, 2020 Posted December 10, 2020 Hi there, im going to post a couple of my helmets here for you guys. This one is a camo helmet, with a serial ZE29 4 Quote
Edoguy1305 Posted December 10, 2020 Posted December 10, 2020 This one is a 36th Division, with YJ 55. Interestingly, the IV symbol under the liner pad has been found on one other YJ series helmet. No idea what it means. 4 Quote
Edoguy1305 Posted December 10, 2020 Posted December 10, 2020 This one is interesting. It's pretty beat up and has what I think is supposed to be a 33rd ID insignia on the front, but it's missing its black circle (can't really tell from the picture). What's even more interesting is that the stamp is XHM. Pretty cool, I don't think I've seen this one, but hopefully there is another one out there somewhere. 4 Quote
leon21 Posted December 11, 2020 Author Posted December 11, 2020 Nice looking helmets Edoguy thanks for posting the photo's. 3 Quote
Annette Posted December 21, 2020 Posted December 21, 2020 Hi, I am new to this forum and seen there was a lot of knowledge about these old helmets and enjoyed seeing all of them and was hoping someone could help me help identify mine. I was told it was a WW2 Army helmet. From my research it is looking like to me that it may be from WW1. If I am reading it correctly the stamp number is ZG37 or ZG57. It also has what I believe is his initials F.G.P. and F.P. in numerous places on the helmet and on the lining. There is a little star emblem on the inside center rivet. On the leather chin piece next to the center star there is a size of 6-7/8 and some writing. On the outside of the leather head piece that is some I believe are initials and some more writhing I can't quite make out. Any information of this helmet would be greatly appreciated. Thank you 5 Quote
Gildwiller1918 Posted December 21, 2020 Posted December 21, 2020 Hello Annette, welcome to the forum, what you have is a US made, 1917 pattern helmet. These were used in WW1 and some were reused to make the M1917A1 helmets just before WW2. This was patterned from the British Brodie helmet. ZG37 stood for the maker and lot number, unfortunately the lists for those have not been recovered yet. The 6 7/8 marking denoted the liner size, however the liner could be adjusted slightly to meet the wearers size. Sometimes the liner itself is stamped with a makers mark, this is located on the underside of the black portion of the liner. It may be possible to fold it over and look, however if the liner is brittle and stiff I would not recommend this as it may tear. The helmet has its original paint, as it should look for WW1 use. The initials could have belonged to the wearer, however with out more information, it would be difficult to say. Only issue I see is that the chinstrap appears to be broken or missing, however I can't see that from the images. Overall a very nice helmet. 5 Quote
leon21 Posted December 21, 2020 Author Posted December 21, 2020 Welcome Annette, nice looking helmet I agree with Gildwiller your helmet still has part of the label which would read ( Tighten Cord and ajust netting to fit head). I've never seen a helmet that has the solders initials on the outside of the helmet before, you normally find them on the in side of the shell or on the liner. I'm thinking it could have used post WW1 by someone in a volunteer role as a Fire Party member this is only a guess though. 5 Quote
Annette Posted December 22, 2020 Posted December 22, 2020 Thank you both very much for this great information. It is just amazing the knowledge you all have on these helmets. I did a lot of searching and there is so many different stamp markings on these helmets it is a little confusing when you don't know much about them. I appreciate your quick responses. Thanks again, Annette 5 Quote
Gildwiller1918 Posted March 1, 2021 Posted March 1, 2021 I found this clip on US Helmet production from another forum site, interesting process showing the process of painting and finishing the M1917 helmet. http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675048436_military-helmets_assembling-helmets_dipping-into-paint-tanks_wooden-crates 4 Quote
leon21 Posted March 2, 2021 Author Posted March 2, 2021 Yes filmed at the Ford Plant in Philadelphia this film all ready loaded on page one of this post Interesting film though. 4 Quote
Gildwiller1918 Posted March 2, 2021 Posted March 2, 2021 Sorry Leon, I didn't realize this was already on the site. I was thinking of trying to duplicate the packing crate for the helmets though. 4 Quote
AtomicCoconuts Posted March 24, 2021 Posted March 24, 2021 Hi, so a while ago I got a Brodie helmet from my grandfather and I was trying to get the markings identified. The inside leather is pretty crumbled and damaged from sitting in an apartment for a long time doing nothing but if anyone could help me out that would be great! The marking appears to read C2 but I could be wrong and there is a very very faded name in the last picture which I believe says something along the lines of F.C. Schilio thank you! 4 Quote
leon21 Posted March 25, 2021 Author Posted March 25, 2021 Welcome to the forum, the helmet you have is stamp ZC2 you can just make out the letter Z in front of the letter C. The ZC marked helmets were made by Edward G Budd manufacturing Co Philadelphia. The helmet has been Refurbished and Modified with a new leather liner and web chinstrap sometime. between 1932 and 1936 these modified helmets were called the M1917A1 ( Kelly Helmet ). The helmet shell is the WW1 m1917, hope this helps. 5 Quote
AtomicCoconuts Posted March 25, 2021 Posted March 25, 2021 Thank you very much! Super cool stuff 4 Quote
Gildwiller1918 Posted March 26, 2021 Posted March 26, 2021 Yes, very nice, the stamp looks like "ZC 217". 4 Quote
leon21 Posted March 30, 2021 Author Posted March 30, 2021 Yes I agree looks like 217 missed the last numbers. 4 Quote
Hannah B Posted April 7, 2021 Posted April 7, 2021 Nephew has a Brodie helmet with american chin strap rivets. However the stamp underneath M/A 80. I am not finding this stamp code in US or British. Any idea what this means? thanks! 3 Quote
leon21 Posted April 8, 2021 Author Posted April 8, 2021 Welcome to the forum Hannah the helmet is British made by J&J. Maxfield & Sons Ltd of Sheffield The Steel Supplier was Edgar Allen & Co Ltd of Sheffield, this could be one of the British helmets used by the American in WW1 and the split pins replaced by rivets at some time. Hope this helps. 3 Quote
Gildwiller1918 Posted April 8, 2021 Posted April 8, 2021 Hello Hannah, could you post an image if you get the chance? The US forces used these helmets for some time, and it is not uncommon to see repairs or parts swapped out as needed. Most of the US forces in WW1 used the British made helmets until production could meet the demand in the US. Also the US forces did not immediately leave after the war, they had occupational duties. Additionally some of these helmets made there way to US possessions such as the Philippines, and some even underwent conversion to the M1917A1 Kelly helmets. 4 Quote
Hannah B Posted April 9, 2021 Posted April 9, 2021 On 08/04/2021 at 08:00, Gildwiller1918 said: Hello Hannah, could you post an image if you get the chance? The US forces used these helmets for some time, and it is not uncommon to see repairs or parts swapped out as needed. Most of the US forces in WW1 used the British made helmets until production could meet the demand in the US. Also the US forces did not immediately leave after the war, they had occupational duties. Additionally some of these helmets made there way to US possessions such as the Philippines, and some even underwent conversion to the M1917A1 Kelly helmets. 3 Quote
Hannah B Posted April 9, 2021 Posted April 9, 2021 I stand corrected on the rivets! Appreciate all your input. ~Han 4 Quote
Gildwiller1918 Posted June 21, 2021 Posted June 21, 2021 Period photo's from the Edward G. Budd factory, making M1917 helmets. I have labeled each photo to explain the process, however they are not in correct order, for some reason the photos get jumbled up when loading, so my apologies. Images from National Archives Steel blanks stacked up for future helmets Steel blanks ready for first punching Helmets after first punch Helmets after second punch More helmets going into press for second punch Helmets coming out of press from second punch Worker making punches into steel blanks for press plate to line up properly Workers adding steel banding to rim of helmet Cart full of helmets being transported across the factory Inspection process after second stamping More helmets going through second stamping Welding the helmet rim band into place Punching holes for chinstrap lugs Mounting rivets into place for chinstrap lugs View of the factory floor Finished helmets being trucked to paint department 3 Quote
leon21 Posted June 21, 2021 Author Posted June 21, 2021 Very interesting Photo's. Great find. 3 Quote
Gildwiller1918 Posted June 21, 2021 Posted June 21, 2021 Thanks Leon, I found images of two other factories as well. I will post at a later date. In the 3rd photo from the bottom, you can see the stamp on the rim of the helmet, "ZC 315", although the numbers are not that clear, it is definitely ZC for the Budd factory. 3 Quote
Wrecker1 Posted June 22, 2021 Posted June 22, 2021 An amazing amount of knowledge here, thank you for that. I have markings za235 4 Quote
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