Item:
ONJR22LGS006

Original U.S. WWII Snow Camouflage M1 Schlueter Rear Seam Helmet with 2nd Lieutenant Marked Westinghouse Liner

Item Description

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of a Late-War M1 Helmet produced by Schlueter, complete with its original liner with a 2nd Lieutenant painted insignia and a very nice white snow camouflage.

In World War II the production of the M1 helmet began in June 1941 and ceased in September 1945. The total production of M-1 helmet shells during the war reached 22,000,000. Of these about 20,000,000 were produced by the main contractor McCord Radiator and Manufacturing Company of Detroit. Although McCord was supposed to be the single source of M-1 helmet shells, by the summer of 1942 a second company was enlisted to help the production effort. This was Schlueter Manufacturing of St. Louis, Missouri.

Schlueter began production of its M-1 helmet shells in January 1943. Schlueter produced only 2,000,000 M-1 helmet shells during the war (both fixed and swivel). They placed an "S" stamp on their helmet shells above their "heat temperature stamp".

Aside from the markings, there are some subtle differences between a McCord and Schlueter M-1 helmet shell. This can be found on the rims. A Schlueter helmet shell has a much straighter profile than the classic McCord brim. Also the weld marks for the rim seam and bales (fixed or swivel) are small and round on a Schlueter, while they are oval and wide for a McCord.

This nice late war production helmet is a fine example and still retains most of its original WWII parts and paint, with some light wear from service. Unfortunately there is no chin strap present. The steel shell is marked with a large S with a heat stamp unable to be read, dating manufacture to early-mid 1945, after the switch to the manganese steel rim with a rear seam. The small round welds on the seam and chin strap bale bases are also definitive for a Schlueter helmet shell.

This M-1 helmet shell was originally designed with a stainless steel rim with seam in the front. Stainless steel 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 1944, due to issues with paint flaking off the bright stainless steel, the rim material was switched to non-magnetic manganese steel. This material was not as shiny and retained the paint far better. Slightly later, a "rear seam" design was implemented. This helmet features the correct late war manganese steel rim with rear seam and swivel bales.

The liner is correct "high pressure" WWII issue and stamped with a W under mold number 27, 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.

This true US WWII M-1 helmet liner can be identified through the frontal eyelet hole which has a lovely gold painted 2nd Lieutenant Bar over it. Other correct WWII features include OD Green #3 cotton herringbone twill (HBT) cloth suspension liner, with the webbing in somewhat delicate condition. 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 front and rear webbing has degraded and torn from the washer. There is no leather chin strap present in this example.

This is a lovely late war example that comes ready to display!

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