Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. The MkII "Talker" helmet was developed in 1942 for naval personnel, allowing communications headgear to be easily worn under the helmet. It was a very large and somewhat ungainly helmet to wear though it did serve its purpose very well. It was designed to accommodate wearing headphones for Radiomen or anyone using shipboard sound-powered phones.
The Mk-2 was manufactured by the McCord Radiator Company in Detroit Michigan; the "Arsenal of Democracy". Its composition is non-magnetic Hadfield manganese steel. In addition to accommodating headphones, it also provided a great deal of protection to the wearer. The bowl is so wide it even provided some coverage to the shoulders of the sailor who was underneath it.
Painted sea blue, the Mk II, like the Mk I, has cork applied with the paint to provide a textured, non-reflective surface.
These helmets have become much harder to find lately, especially genuine WWII examples. This example is in very good condition, with very nice paint job. It does look to have been repainted while in service, so the original stenciled paint markings on the interior are no longer visible.
There is some paint chipping and light rust on the interior around the rim. The original liner is intact, and unlike many we see, it was not painted over when the interior was! While it is a bit dirty and dusty, it is still soft, and the rubber inside has not hardened or deteriorated. Some of the edges of the liner have lifted away, but overall it is solid, just a bit dirty.
Ready to display!
- This product is available for international shipping.
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