Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of a genuine WWII Navy M1 Helmet made by McCord Radiator, fitted with a very nice liner by the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company. What makes this set very nice is the fact that it has remained virtually untouched since the war. The set is extremely salty (pun intended) and shows years of faithful wear while serving aboard a ship on the ocean. We have made no attempts to remove the liner from the shell due to the delicate state of the leather chinstrap that has shrunk significantly over the front visor. It is recommended that the helmet stay as is without separating the two.
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. There isn’t a heat stamp visible on the interior of the shell.
This very good condition M1 shell has correct mid war swivel chinstrap loops, called "bales," and a stainless steel rim with a front fully welded seam. These 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 November 1944 the specification was changed to have the rim seam in the rear of the helmet.
This helmet is a fine example of a service worn helmet and still retains most of its original WW2 parts and the shell has all original "corked" grain paint, which is still visible under the haze gray paint. The initials C.P.C. are written on the front, the origin of which we are unsure of. There is also the usual wear on the stainless steel rim. The khaki chinstrap is in good shape still affixed to the back of the helmet. The leather liner chinstrap has broken off as shown but is still present. There is a name on one of the back straps of the liner as shown, but it is very faded and we have not attempted to research it.
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 WW2 features include cotton herringbone twill (HBT) cloth suspension. 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 usually joined together with a string but unfortunately one of the suspension bands is missing completely. This way the wearer could adjust the fit. The liner is in a near relic state but it has been in this configuration since the war. The leather chinstrap is present and extremely delicate with tearing present. The suspension is torn, stained and missing sections.
These helmets have become increasingly difficult to find in recent years, especially genuine WW2 issue liners with the correct HBT straps. This is a great example of a Navy M1 Helmet, don’t miss it.
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