Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of a genuine WWII Front-Seam Fixed Bale M1 Helmet made by McCord Radiator, with a Firestone liner and HBT camouflage cover. The U.S. WWII M-1 helmet was only produced from 1941 to 1945. The first production batch resulted with over 323,510 M-1 helmets before the start of the American involvement in the war. The heat stamp on the helmet is 236A, dating its production to August 1942.
The Ordnance Department selected McCord Radiator and Manufacturing Company of Detroit Michigan to produce the steel M1 helmet bodies. These bodies were made from a single piece of Hadfield Manganese steel that was produced by the Carnegie-Illinois & Sharon Steel Corporations. Each completed raw M-1 helmet shell weighed 2.25 lbs each.
This M1 shell has correct early war fixed chinstrap loops, called "bales," and a stainless steel rim with a front seam. These rims were both rust resistant and had "non-magnetic qualities" that reduced the chance of error readings when placed around certain sensitive equipment (such as a compass). In November 1944 the specification was changed to have the rim seam in the rear of the helmet. The helmet canvas chinstrap is in good shape and still opens and closes well.
The helmet cover is in good shaped, with a Marine Corps EGA insignia stenciled on one side and named BUSH on one side, and is clearly marked on the reverse side:
COVER, HELMET, CAMOUFLAGE
BLUE ANCHOR OVERALL CO. INC.
TAP-1424 29 APRIL 1953
The helmet liner is a correct “high pressure” WWII issue and stamped with an F logo for the FIRESTONE TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY. Manufactured in Akron, Ohio this “high pressure” manufactured M-1 helmet liner is identified by an embossed “F” in the crown. Firestone Tire and Rubber Company started M-1 helmet liner delivery to the US Army in September 1942. They produced approximately 7,500,000 M-1 helmet liners and discontinued production around August 17 1945 when the war ended.
This true US WWII M-1 helmet liner can be identified through the frontal eyelet hole. Other correct WW2 features include cotton herringbone twill (HBT) cloth suspension liner. This HBT suspension is held tightly within the M-1 helmet liner by rivets and a series of triangular "A" washers. The three upper suspension bands are joined together with the correct OD green string. This way the wearer could adjust the fit. The chin strap is still present but is missing a piece, so it is not completely attached as shown.
The name C.J. WALKER is written on the liner’s interior, and the serial number 32270078 is written on the sweatband. This identifies the helmet to Charles J. Walker, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1918, and was living in Delaware at the time of World War II. This means the helmet was used by Walker, and reissued later when the camouflage cover was added.
This makes this helmet a great research project, ready for further research and display!
- This product is available for international shipping.
- Eligible for all payments - Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, Paypal & Sezzle
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