Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of a genuine WWII Rear-Seam Swivel Bale M1 Helmet made by McCord Radiator, fitted with a very nice liner by Westinghouse.

The helmet shell is painted to the front with a Major’s golden oak leaf, and to the rear with a small vertical white “Follow Me” bar.

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 1201D which indicates the approximate manufacture date of late 1944.

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 helmet is of the swivel bale, rear seam, variety. M-1 helmet shell originally had a stainless steel rim with a seam in the front. Stainless steel rims were both rust resistant and had "non-magnetic qualities" that reduced the chance of errors when placed around certain sensitive equipment (such as a compass). In 1944, due to issues with paint flaking off the bright stainless steel, the rim was changed to use non-magnetic manganese steel, which retained the paint and was not shiny. Shortly after this in November 1944 the switch was made to rear seams.

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 rim. It has the correct late war OD Green chinstrap with stamped steel buckles. 

The liner is correct "high pressure" WWII issue and stamped with a W for the Westinghouse Electric Co, Manufactured in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania this "high pressure" manufactured M-1 helmet liner is 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. Westinghouse did have a contract to produce airborne liners and converted an unknown amount to airborne configuration. Westinghouse discontinued production around August 17, 1945 when the war ended.

This true US WWII M-1 helmet liner can 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 present and in overall good condition, without any serious issues. The liner chin strap is in great worn condition with minor crazing.

A great Major’s helmet with a Follow-Me bar, ready for display.