Item Description
Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is a very nice example of a genuine WWII Front-Seam Fixed Bale M1 Helmet made by McCord Radiator, fitted with a very nice liner by Westinghouse. The helmet is named to Colonel Shade, who we have been unable to identify through our research. The helmet and liner both have Colonel’s Eagles painted on the front, so the set has been together since World War II!
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 106H.
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 very good condition M1 shell has correct mid war swivel chinstrap loops, called "bales," and a stainless steel rim with a front fully welded 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.
This helmet is a fine example and still retains all of its original WW2 parts and the shell has all original "corked" grain paint, with only light wear. There is also the usual wear on the stainless steel rim. It has the correct stamped brass chinstrap hardware.
The liner is correct high pressure WWII issue and stamped with the Capac Manufacturing Company logo with frontal eyelet. Manufactured in Capac, Michigan this high pressure manufactured M-1 helmet liner is identified by an embossed cross with the words Capac in the crown. Capac Manufacturing Company 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.
A true US WWII M-1 helmet liner can usually be identified through the frontal eyelet hole. Other correct WW2 features include cotton herringbone twill (HBT) cloth suspension. 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 correct string. This way the wearer could adjust the fit. The leather liner chinstrap is unfortunately broken.
The outside of the liner is painted with Colonel insignia to the front. Liner shell is in good condition with original paint and original leather chinstrap, which is very worn but sitting on the front visor. The suspension liner has wear and damage as shown.
World War I and World War II saw the largest numbers of colonels ever appointed in the U.S. military. This was mostly due to the temporary ranks of the National Army and the Army of the United States, where those who would normally hold the rank of Captain in the peacetime Regular Army were thrust into the rank of colonel during these two wars.
A lovely helmet ready for further research and display. We believe the Colonel could definitely be identified with enough digging!
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