Interesting that the British helmet has not changed much
over several hundred years.........
Interesting that the British helmet has not changed much
over several hundred years.........
Regards,
Steve.
that helmet is for a archer, this is what you want!
Edit: picture quickly found on google.
Best Regards Matt
On the look out for original ww2 M26 Adrian helmet liner.
There is quite a lot about these Zuckerman - or more correctly CIVILIAN PROTECTIVE HELMET - on the these helmet forums. As noted they were first issued in December 1940 (though 1940-dated examples are hard to find and probably produced in small numbers); it is said, and sometimes believed, that production continued into 1942, though I have never seen a 1942-dated example.
Here's a transcription of the original leaflet that accompanied each helmet - (a couple of illustrations not included).
MINISTRY OF HOME SECURITY
THE CIVILIAN PROTECTIVE HELMET
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ASSEMBLY AND FITTING
The Civilian Protective Helmet is issued unassembled in three parts - body, lining, and lace.
The steel body is in two sizes and the liner is in six sizes - ie three sizes to each size of body, as follows -
The medium body (stamped M) takes linings of 6andahalf, 6andthreequarters and 7.
The large body (stamped L) takes linings of 7andaquarter, 7andahalf, and 7andthreequarters.
Fig 1 shows the general shape of the helmet. Although the body is symmetrical in shape the line of lacing holes is sloped so that when the lining is asssembled to the body the helmet has a front and a back. The back comes down lower to protect the back of the head.
The letters L and M stamped under the rim at the back indicates the size of the helmet body.
How to assemble the Helmet.
(i) Take a lining of the required size and a body of the size to fit the lining - see above. (NB - It is essential that the right size of body be used with each lining size.) It does not matter which part of the lining becomes the front or back; but it is usual to assemble it so that the join in the headband is at the back.
(ii) There are eight pairs of lacing holes in the steel body, corresponding with the eight loops on the lining (A 'pair' of holes means two holes close together - about 1 inch apart. There is a space of about 2 inches between two pairs.) A loop should be placed behind and between the two holes which form one pair, and the lace threaded alternately through the lacing holes in the body and the loops on the lining as show in Fig. 2.
When the lacing is finished lace should be visible outside the body of the helmet between each pair of holes, and should be invisible between the two holes which form a pair (see Fig. 1).
(iii) When the lacing has been completed, draw the lace tight and tie it firmly in a bow. It will be most satisfactory to form the tie inside the helmet (ie alongside one of the loops in the lining) and at the back, where loose ends can be tucked away, and not outside the helmet, where the tie will be more liable to come undone.
The lacing can be done with any strong piece of cord or lace of the right thickness if the lace originally provided gets broken.
How to fit the Helmet.
The wearer of the helmet should see that it fits well. The leather band of the lining should fit as closely as possible around the head without being too tight. If it is too loose and the next size smaller is too tight, the lining should be padded with layers of paper or other material inside the leather band.
When the fit around the head has been made right, the helmet should be worn to see whether it comes down far enough, or too far, on the head. This can be adjusted by lenghtening or shortening the piece of cord which is threaded through the webbing band at the crown of the head. The brim at the front should be about level with the eyebrows when the helmet is worn in a comfortable position on the head. (Note - the cord must not be loosened so much that the head nearly comes in contact with the steel body. People with high-domed heads may find it advisable to wear the helmet above eyebrow level.)
Chinstrap or Carrying Loops
No chinstrap is provided because it is not likely to be necessary except in rare circumstances. Nevertheless lugs are provided inside the helmet on either side through which a piece of tape can be threaded if desired, to form either a strap (to be worn either under the chin or at the back of the head) or a carrying loop.
((This single sheet pamphlet is undated))
The 'Zuckerman' name is, I think entirely collector-derived, from the name of the Government official notionally responsible for the helmet. I have never seen any evidence that they were actually called that in the 1940s.
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