Item:
ONSV21WOS72

Original U.S. WWII Named 3rd Armored Division 1943 McCord Fixed Bale M1 Helmet with Westinghouse Liner

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 Westinghouse liner and original period helmet net. Included with the helmet is a very nice WWII Period U.S. Army 3rd Armored Division embroidered sleeve insignia, along with a handwritten note that reads:

KENNETH CHARLES GREENE
3 ARMORED DIV
H.Q. CO. - (STAFF SGT.)

The inside of the liner is marked with G-8823 as well as K over G (Greene's Initials), making this a great research opportunity.

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 661A, which indicates the approximate manufacture date of August-September 1943, right when wartime production was in full swing.

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 mid 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 October 1943, issues with the fixed bales breaking off resulted in a change to the "swivel bales". Then in October 1944, the rims were changed to non magnetic manganese steel, due to issues with the paint wearing off the rim. Shortly after this 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 most of its original WWII parts. The original "corked grain" can still be seen on the exterior, however there definitely is some wear and paint loss, and it may have had the crown area repainted during the war. It has the correct fixed bails and a stainless steel rim, which is missing paint, as is typical. The chin strap is the correct later war OD Green #3 with a stamped brass buckle.

The liner is correct "high pressure" WWII issue and embossed with a W under mold number D 39, for manufacture by the the Westinghouse Electric Co of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. These "high pressure" manufactured M-1 helmet liner 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 be identified through the frontal eyelet hole. Other correct WWII features include cotton OD Green #3 herringbone twill (HBT) cloth suspension liner, with the webbing in very good shape. 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 in lightly worn condition, with some discoloration around the edges. It is also slightly stiff, and one of the securing clips has rusted through. The liner chin strap is fully intact, definitely a rarity.

An very nice genuine WWII issue helmet with 3rd Armored Division provenance, perfect for any collection! Ready to research and display!

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