Original Item: Only One Available. This is an outstanding example of an early WWII U.S. Combat Helmet with the owners dog tags inside. This is an M1 Fixed Bale Helmet with a fine example of a very scarce Hood Rubber Company Low Pressure Helmet Liner, with dog tags identifying the helmet to Major Alexander Palmer Smith Jr. The helmet is offered in great condition with a “Shrimp Net” helmet net installed!

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 has a heat lot stamp but it is very faint, possibly reading 363A, which dates to July - August 1943.

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 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 all of its original WW2 parts and the shell has all original "corked" grain paint with front seam and fixed bails. The shell is fitted with the later steel chinstrap hardware.

The helmet also features one of the rare early-war "low pressure" liners, which were constructed of rubber fiber, and were the thinnest construction of all WWII Liners. This liner was manufactured by Hood Rubber, although we can’t see the HR stamp on the crown, as it may have worn away, steel triangular "A" washers, and the standard OD Green #3 HBT suspension, which was held over for the later versions of the liner. St. Clair also made the low pressure liner, but they used unique square washers and rayon suspension. The low pressure liners, like the Hawley paper liners, were found to be inadequate, and were replaced with the "high pressure" liner, so finding one still in a helmet is quite rare, as they were sold off to be children's toys.

The rigging in the liner is still intact showing signs of light honest use. The sweatband and chinstrap are present but worn from service. Like all true US WWII M-1 helmet liners, this liner has the front vent eyelet hole. The three upper suspension bands are joined together with the correct string. This way the wearer could adjust the fit. The helmet net is in fair shape.

The liner has a set of dog tags on their original string reading:

A.P. SMITH JR.
O-484046 T43
CAROLYN F. SMITH
10 TRIANON PLAZA
NEW ORLEANS LA P

This identifies the helmet to Alexander Palmer Smith Jr., who from what we can find was working in the U.S. Army Adjutant General’s Office, being transferred to Dallas, Texas as Chief of the Officer Procurement Branch of the Army Personnel division in May of 1943. We are unsure if he went overseas as there isn’t much more we could find on him. A Great research project!

This is a great original example of an M1 Helmet equipped with a rare "low-pressure" liner. Ready to display!