British WW2 civil helmet but what is it made of?

[Composite]

Actually they were MORE expensive.......

[rrickoshae]

very nice markings on the AFS lid. But does GAC actually stand for Gloster Aircraft Co? If not, odd that GAC should be painted on the outside as well as stamped at the rear and mine did come from Gloucester.
Dave

[Composite]

I think it would be fair to assume they're from the aircraft company....I have a metal one which is stencilled and stamped "GAC" too.....you're right though, it could be somat else......

Quite a few companies stencilled'n'stamped.......'spect they were worried the painted markings could be over-painted if 'arf inched" or perhaps they all belonged to Gregory Arthur Clarkson......maybe?

[ppp p]

Rough MkII ebonite without GAC and MkIINo2C with GAC stamped.
Piotrek

[rrickoshae]

hmm, ebonite, I like that word. Is that what the 'stuff' is actually called? Now to look out for a steel 'GAC' in the Gloucester area.

[Watchdog]

hmm, ebonite, I like that word. Is that what the 'stuff' is actually called? Now to look out for a steel 'GAC' in the Gloucester area.

Yep, Ebonite was a real material and as the name suggests it was a synthetic substitute for the expensive hardwood Ebony.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebonite

I believe that if a lid were formed from Ebonite it would be brittle and not much use as any kind of head protection.

However, I am not sure that the lid above is Ebonite. It looks to me more like the "resin and rags" composition at the top of the thread. I too would like to know what that crude fibre reinforced plastic was called if anybody knows?

Regards

Mark

[Composite]

I was wondering how it was known that this one WAS Ebonite...we'll never know......I've seen quite a few WW2s Compos (they're not that rare after all) and the annoying feature is the almost total lack of markings...with "PLASFORT" being one large exception. There was a whole raft of substances (and fillers) tested and used.. Ebonite being just one.....it is possible to make out rag and/or wood bits but that's about it....