Today's flea market find

[ajk99US]

Hi guys,
Me again . Wanted to share the latest addition to my collection.
Found this WW2 US tanker helmet today at a flea market. I agree it's not in the best of condition but it's definitely got that 'been there done that' look to it. If it could only talk...
But as always there are a few abnormalities with it. To start anyone know why the leather liner is a dark brownish (sweat, stain, age...?) and there are a couple of markings and numbers written into the liner.does anyone have an idea as in what they could mean? (Division, infantry number, calculations)???
Regards and thx in advance,
AJ

[Spitace41]

Nice find. I really like it. I could be wrong, but the writing inside reminds me very much of letters and figures I have seen in or on French items. Could this have been issued to the French army perhaps? Just my initial impressions. Cheers

[GreekMilitaria]

I was browsing some threads yesterday and i came across this one
Various helmets

where Adrian stated that #8 helmet is "Post war French tankers helmet. Inspired by the US M1938 tankers helmet." i dont know if this one is the same but
when i first saw #8 helmet i thought that it was a US one i will follow this thread to see if it is US or FR helmet

[MAP]

Not 100% sure but I think Spalding and Rawlings were the only US manufacturers. These were stamped on the leather

Regards

Michael

[ajk99US]

Thx GreekMilitaria for the information, interesting thread by the way.
But I'm close to 100 % sure it's an American one because of the maker's stamp mark. It's marked with a big F inside of the helmet which stands for the Firestone tire and rubber company based in Ohio USA.

[ajk99US]

That's what I thought too MAP. I thought that the M1938 helmets were manufactured by Spalding & Rawling, but if I'm not mistaken I think they produced them from mid to late war?
And the early M38s were produced by Firestone tire company. Or at least the shell was . possibly the markings of the helmet are worn off?
Regards, AJ

[ajk99US]

Example of a WW2 US M1 liner Firestone manufactured helmet liner