Original Item: Only One Available. This is a rough example of a rare Hawley pressed paper M1 Helmet liner, worn by a Lieutenant as indicated by the 2nd Lieutenant bar painted to the front. They were only issued in very small numbers during the early days of World War Two. Their structural deficiencies were quickly noted, and the replacement "low pressure" and later "high pressure" liners were put into planning and production shortly after. The Hawley liners were however all that was available during the earliest days of M1 Helmet production. This is obvious from the deterioration and damage to the crown of the liner.
 
These liners are quite delicate, and often were replaced during the war, making them very hard to find. This liner in particular is a rough but intact example of a Hawley liner. It does show evidence of having been installed in a helmet and worn, and does have heavy damage to the crown as shown. It had the original Rayon suspension changed out to an “updated” webbing suspension at some point during the war, but the updated suspension is heavily damaged with many pieces broken off and torn. There are a few heavy dents and several tears in the material around the rim, showing just how delicate these are. Even storage would cause damage. There is a partial chinstrap retained as well which has broken. 

The interior bears the same laundry number in two spots, GO-5832. This is certainly worthy of further research.
 
A great example, ready for further research and display.
 
The M1 Helmet has become one of the most iconic, easily recognizable, and widely collected military helmets in existence. All World War 2 era M1 Helmet shells were produced either by the McCord Radiator & Manufacturing Company or Schlueter Manufacturing Company while the M1 Helmet liners were produced by eleven manufacturers throughout World War II. Over the course of the war the liner went through a series of changes, with the first design being known as the Fiber Liner. The Fiber Liner, popularly and at times incorrectly referred to as the “Hawley Liner”, was produced between 1941 to 1942 by two companies: Hawley Products Company and General Fibre Products. Hawley Products is the better known of the two as they began producing the liner first, produced the majority of all fiber liners, and are overall a better known company in part due to their past for producing high quality pith helmets prior to their work with the M1 helmet liner. Initial production began in June of 1941 with the Ordnance Department procuring M1 helmets from McCord, who subcontracted production for the liner to Hawley. Hawley produced the fiber liner bodies, which were then delivered to McCord for suspension installation and pairing with the shell. By December of 1941, procurement of the fiber liner changed hands, being taken over by the Quartermaster Corps.