{"product_id":"original-u-s-wwii-u-s-navy-talker-helmet-with-headset-and-microphone-and-kapok-yoke-type-life-jacket","title":"Original U.S. WWII U.S. Navy Talker Helmet With Headset and Microphone and KAPOK Yoke-Type Life Jacket","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Items: Only One Group Available. This is a fantastic opportunity to add some very iconic WWII United States Navy items to your collection. This grouping includes a Mk2 USN “Talker Helmet”, “Talker” Headset\/ Microphone,and a Late War Kapok life preserver.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMk2 USN Talker Helmet: In 1942, the US Navy decided to commission a special helmet for sailors posted on decks and tasked with transmitting orders by sound-powered telephone. The new helmet was to protect \"exposed deck personnel\" and accommodate a telephone headset; furthermore, it had to be usable while wearing a gas mask and binoculars.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe helmet was made of non-magnetic Hadfield manganese steel. Designated USN MK-2, it was at the time the largest helmet ever used in US service.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Helmet is in very nice condition with rubber coated foam lining, markings, and leather chinstrap. The Helmet shows signs of moderate use and wear and has retained most of the original paint. The inner ink stamps are still visible and it has a heat stamp of \u003cstrong\u003e8214\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis set includes the headset and chestset. The chest set would be positioned either on the user's chest or a flat surface and is spoken into like the early telephones, while listening from the headset. The chest set still has the nomenclature sticker present:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHEADSET MI-2045 E\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSERIAL 181546\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSPEC. R17T23\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eR.C.A. MANUFACTURING SO. INC.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMADE IN U.S.A.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe set is complete with all cords, straps, and so forth. The only detraction to this near-unissued set is the deterioration to the foam rubber on the headset.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKapok “Yoke-Type” Life Jacket. This is the later way version of the earlier classic Kapok throughout WWII. This model was unique in that it could have the buoyancy filling removed from the three main sections via a zippered opening on each compartment. The inside tag is still present and able to be read, although it is not completed with the name of ships or when it was tested. The tag does appear to date from the WWII Era, however. The jacket was manufactured by the People’s Company of Hungton, WV.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a wonderful US Navy grouping and would look great displayed together or used to complete a WWII US Navy uniformed mannequin!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39915055644741,"sku":"ONJR22SS098","price":795.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/products\/ONJR22SS098__15.jpg?v=1648653880","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-wwii-u-s-navy-talker-helmet-with-headset-and-microphone-and-kapok-yoke-type-life-jacket","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}