Item:
ONSV2246

Original U.S. WWII 4 Star General M1 McCord Front Seam Helmet with Mine Safety Appliance Liner

Item Description

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a fantastic 1944 -1945 front seam swivel bale helmet with Westinghouse liner. The shell bears four General stars representing a General in the U.S. Army. We acquired this from a well known collector who's collection was recently auctioned off, there was no information on this helmet, no paperwork and no provenance. The interior of the helmet bear the initials PFM. We cannot find a PFM that was a known four star General in WW2, meaning our research was incomplete, or the initials were not that of the original owner. Based on the age of the paint and correct stenciling of the stars we believe it to be genuine to the WWII era. We do not know to whom it belonged to. Therefore, we sell it only as a WWII 4-Star General helmet, which is in wonderful condition and rare.

In September 1940, Congress authorized the President to appoint Regular Army officers to temporary higher grades in the Army of the United States during time of war or national emergency. The first temporary lieutenant general appointed under this authority was Major General Delos C. Emmons, Commander, General Headquarters Air Force; followed by Major General Lesley J. McNair, Chief of Staff, General Headquarters, U.S. Army. In July 1941, retired four-star general Douglas MacArthur was recalled to active duty and appointed temporary lieutenant general as Commanding General, U.S. Army Forces in the Far East.

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 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.


The later M-1 helmet shells had a set of swivel (movable) chinstrap loops called bales and a stainless steel rim. 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).

This helmet is a fine example and still retains original WW2 parts and the shell has all original "corked" grain paint with front seam and fixed bails.

Manufactured in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania this “high pressure” manufactured M-1 helmet liner is identified by an embossed MSA in the crown. Mine Safety Appliance started M-1 helmet liner delivery to the US Army in September 1942. They produced approximately between 2,000,000 – 4,000,000 M-1 helmet liners and discontinued production around August 17, 1945 when the war ended.

This true WWII M-1 helmet liner be identified through the frontal eyelet hole. Other correct WW2 features include cotton herringbone twill (HBT) cloth suspension dated 1943. 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 a shoestring. This way the wearer could adjust the fit.

M1 helmets have become increasingly difficult to find in recent years, and General's helmets are nearly unheard of, making this example certain to appreciate in value year after year!

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