Original U.S. WWII U.S. Navy Talker Helmet With Sound Powered Phone and KAPOK Knapsack Life Jacket Group
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Original 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”, Sound Powered Headset and a Kapok life preserver.
Mk2 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.
The 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.
The helmet is in very nice condition but unfortunately the chinstrap is broken on the left side. 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 961D.
Sound Powered Phone: A sound-powered telephone is a communication device that allows users to talk to each other with the use of a handset, similar to a conventional telephone, but without the use of external power. This technology has been used since at least 1944 for both routine and emergency communication on ships to allow communication between key locations on a vessel if power is unavailable. A sound-powered phone circuit can have two or more stations on the same circuit. The circuit is always live, thus a user begins speaking rather than dialing another station. Sound-powered telephones are not normally connected to a telephone exchange.
This 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:
TYPE H-200/U
SOUND POWERED
HEADSET-CHESTSET
NSN 5965-00-900-6401
NAVAL SEA SYSTEMS COMMAND
DYNALEC CORP P/N702019-375
CONTR
SERIAL NO.
INSP.
Both the headset and chestset were manufactured by the Dynalec Corporation.
Kapok Knapsack Life Jacket: The “Knapsack” type life jacket was a 1942 design worn around the midsection. Since it did not restrict the neck or shoulders, it was ideal for gun crews and communications men aboard US Naval vessels. The back of this type of jacket has two suspender straps which cross over the shoulders with another two midsection straps. There are also button snaps located on the front so the wearer could secure the front flaps out of the way. This example appears to be complete and without damage, but it does show signs of use and has staining.
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 only stamp is the date Sept 1943. The jacket was manufactured in Greenfield, Ohio.
This is a wonderful US Navy grouping and would look great displayed together or used to complete a WWII US Navy uniformed mannequin!
- This product is available for international shipping.
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