Para HSAT with internal felt shock absorbing ring?

[Rabaul]

Hi, looking at some early HSAT fibre rimmed para helmets it looks like the internal padding is actually thick felt, like the dispatch rider type, but with a rubberised surface. Here is an image from 2010 thread.



Later they are certainly sorbo rubber, but did the early ones have felt shock absorbing material, with only a rubberised surface?

[SMP]

The very earliest HSATs had a liner made from alternating blocks of black rubber and tan felt, but these are very rare, The more common types had sold blocks of compressed felt coated with a layer of rubberised solution ( as in your photograph). A few more were made with solid blocks of yellow rubber, but these are not so common.

Sorbo rubber was used in the MKIIs with webbing straps

[Rabaul]

Thanks SMP, I had always assumed they had sponge rubber, black or yellow. One of those little details that make the hobby so fascinating.

Cheers