United States Civil Defense M1 Helmet Liner

Here's the question we were all asking when I was a kid:



We all knew that the Commies were the bad guys and it could all go up in flames at any time.




Fortunately there was protection afforded us from total nuclear holocaust...


in the form of our wooden school desks (thanks American Seating of Grand Rapids Michigan), ...


as well as our municipal fallout shelters, which provided both protection as well as ready made tombs for hundreds of thousand of incinerated Americans.


When you begin to hear these...

Responsible members of the community would clap on these:

The Civil Defense helmet, in this case a recycled M1 Westinghouse helmet liner.  This example is emblazoned with the hand painted CD insignia, location, as well as the status of the wearer.  The director has the flashy gold band painted on his lid.  Rank has its privileges.

From the side we have the typical profile of the good old M1.

Top view shows the scuffing and scratching that typically results from exposure to the thermonuclear fireball.  One can only imagine that the director's Paris Township shelter served him well.

Suspension is typical for the WWII era M1 liner with the lighter herring bone webbing.

The metal furniture somewhat corroded by plutonium exposure no doubt.

The Westinghouse logo stamped in the dome.

The insignia grommet is very visible in the front view close-up as is the custom paint job.  No simple slide on decal for the boss, nosirree!  Actually I find this meticulous paint job emblematic of the pride this individual must have felt in his position of leadership and responsibility.  Though it must have been mighty fatiguing to have spent nearly two decades in a constant state of vigilance.

Fortunately the wall came down and all of this became a distant memory...

Until Putin, that is.

provenance:
accession number:
United States Civil Defense M1 helmet liner
Acquired 1999, Flat River Antique Mall, Lowell Michigan.
purchase price: $10.00
Condition: fair/good

Soviet Union Ssh68 Steel Helmet - "high dome"

Here then, is my final installment on the Soviet helmets of the 20th century, ending, appropriately enough, with the last installment of Soviet steel helmets; the Ssh68. Soviet troops providing an early example to the U.S. Department of State on how to achieve victory in Afghanistan.  Note their "high-dome" (sometimes called "conehead") helmets. The front view of this lid makes very evident its unusual height. In profile the dip over the ear is reflective of the earlier generations of Soviet helmets.

The right side demonstrates some sort of unit or tactical marking, seen here... in close-up.

The four split rivet heads which secure the suspension are clearly visible in this view.

These four synthetic leather pads with a simple but ingenious cotton cord provide a highly adjustable padded suspension keeping the wearer's skull well out of contact with the helmet shell. The sheet-metal "T"s which provide a sprung mounting for the liner remind me of the old Adrian system.

A close up of the split rivet which secures the suspension.  The horsehair backing of the liner pad is also evident.

The leather chinstrap is well made though that buckle seems quite un-martial in appearance.

The texture is roughened with (I think) silica and painted a rich medium olive.

Like most red helmets this one is abundantly marked:

in the dome...

stamped on the rim...

and under the skirt.

Though, to my eyes, slightly incongruous in height and balance, this particular example is in outstanding condition.  Where it not for the tactical marking I'd say that this one was never issued.

Back to that ill-fated Russki adventure in Afghanistan... Vlad the impaler toasts the Americans' turn at bat.

provenance: accession number: MOA hmar236.62.13 Ssh68 Soviet Steel Helmet Acquired 1999, a gift from a friend visiting Russia. Purchase price :$20.00 Condition: excellent

Soviet Ssh40 Steel Helmet of WWII and beyond

"Let's go Marching Through Georgia!"  is the rough translation of the poster above.  This is the second of three installments of Soviet helmets of the 20th century in recognition of the Sovi...er, that is "Russian" invasion of neighboring Georgia.

The Ssh40 typifies the Red soldier of the Second World War as well as the Cold War, and represents the exported image of Marxism globally.  This commie lid would end up on the heads of Reds from China to Cuba and became symbolic of the "bad guys" to us Amerikanskis. From the front the deep dome and flaired skirts reveal a well designed, cheap to produce, and very protective helmet.  Unless, of course, one chooses to wear it like Comrade Numb Nutz  pictured second from right (below)... all that his helmet is protecting is his pompadour. Side views show a very simple, worker-friendly design, with very clean lines and simple assembly. This particular specimen, with a nearly perfect finish,  is in unissued condition and I'm happy to have it in my collection Only the slightest storage blemishes are evident.  This is one very clean lid.

Let's follow Ivan and Boris as they go... Charging toward the details!   (Поручать к деталям!)

The three-pad oil cloth liner is attached to the dome at six points by split rivets.

There are numerous markings and stamps throughout this helmet: On the shell, (I'm assuming that this is the date of manufacture - 1958) and on the liner pads.  A robust cotton cord joins the three pads and provides a good degree of adjustment for setting the depth of the head into the helmet. The chinstrap, of olive canvas with a metal buckle and ferrule, is both cheap to manufacture and very durable as well as easy to adjust. A close-up of the horse hair padding, the liner band, and the split end of the attaching rivet. The helmet is finished rough in a very even coating of grit and olive paint. The Russkis could never design a decent sportscoat, automobile, ball-point pen, or calculator, but they sure nailed this one.  All in all a fine helmet which came, in the last half of the 20th century to symbolize the scourge of Nazis and (ironically) freedom-loving people throughout the globe.

But,  that was then...

This is now.

Stop by next Monday for a look at the Soviet Ssh68 "high dome" steel combat helmet.

Mannie

Russians, Beware!

Buck Turgidson, the world needs you again.

I'll be posting another Soviet helmet on Monday.

See you then.

Mannie