Received this ShZ-58 winter helmet today. It's unusual in that it's brand new, unissued, and still in the box after having sat in a warehouse in the Ukraine since 1960.
At some stage it's been re-packed, as it came with the user manual for the later Sh-78 series and an LA-5 laryngophone.
This is the helmet that was a further development of the ShL-50, re-designed to accomodate the advent of the first occipital bladder pressure compensator (externally worn) and the first wholly Soviet pressure demand mask, the KM-30.
Side view showing the mask attachment setup.
Rear view. The bladder fastens externally via loops held in place by the helmet strap press studs.
All up, with the occipital bladder and mask attached, it was a very clumsy arrangement. I'm sure the pilots wouldn't have missed it one bit when it's successor was introduced.
The dog hair lining is as good as the day it was made, 54 years ago.
Rover would be proud.
I've got an identical, unissued one arriving next week, along with an unissued ShZ-50 from the same source.
I can post a photo when they arrive if anyone's interested in this sort of stuff.
Cheers, Willie.
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