Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of a mid-WWII Produced M1 Helmet, with a front seam swivel bale shell by McCord, and a "High Pressure" liner by Westinghouse. It shows wear consistent with service, and likely saw some service post war, but it is still in quite good condition.

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. This helmet is heat-lot stamped 813?, which indicates a mid-war manufacture date.

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 early M-1 helmet shells had a set of fixed (static) 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). In October 1943, issues with the fixed bales breaking off resulted in a change to the "swivel bales" that this helmet has. In 1944, to deal with paint wearing off the very shiny stainless steel rim, the material was changed to manganese steel in October, and then the seam moved to the rear in November. This example still has the front seam.

This helmet is a fine example and still retains all of its original WWII parts and the shell has "corked" grain paint with front seam and swivel bails. The chin strap is the correct late war OD Green with stamped steel hardware. The shell and chinstrap are in great condition, showing very little wear related to service.

The liner is correct "high pressure" WWII issue and a very faint embossed with a W for manufacture by the Westinghouse Electric Co of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. These "high pressure" manufactured M-1 helmet liners are identified by an embossed "W" in the crown (which is still Westinghouse's logo to this day). Westinghouse was the largest M-1 helmet liner producer and had two production divisions; Micarta and Bryant Electric. The Micarta Division produced about 13,000,000 M-1 helmet liners and the Bryant Electric Division about 10,000,000. Westinghouse Electric Company started M-1 helmet liner delivery in May 1942.

This true US WWII M-1 helmet liner can be identified through the frontal eyelet hole. Other correct WWII features include OD Green #3 cotton herringbone twill (HBT) cloth suspension liner, with the webbing in good condition. 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 sweatband is a later replacement with green fabric. The liner chinstrap is original and shows heavy cracking.

The original helmet net is in heavily sticky and stiffened condition, with the netting breaking to the touch. There are breaks in the netting in several spots. It has certainly been with this helmet for a very long time and should be properly cared for.

A very nice mid-WWII issue helmet, perfect for any collection! Ready to display!