My First Tanker Helmet (Model ?)

[thorin6]

I picked this up off ebay recently; it fit my budget and looked used but not abused. It’s a Wilson, size 7 and it does have a couple of issues. The spring pieces to hold the ear phones in place are missing and one of the leather pieces that help hold the ear phones in place is torn. One the other hand, if you look at the top of the helmet in the right and left views, you’ll see something stuck through the holes on top; that’s one of the springs. It shows wear on the edges, but other than that seems intact. Inside there is something missing from most helmets that I’ve been able to view (actually all of the ones I viewed). If you look at the inside view you’ll see white felt blocks between the interior leather and the inside of the helmet. They are all there, held together by a string that runs through all of them. I’m going to add some M1944 (WWII issue) goggles to it and set it out for display. Any comments on the helmet are welcome.

 

First the front view followed by the inside marking:

 

 

 

Then the left and right views; note the spring on the top:

 

 

 

Here’s the back:

 

 

And here’s the inside; you can see the felt blocks that fall loose every time I turn the helmet upside down. It’s kind of a pain to get them back under the leather.

 

[LarryM3]

Thorin6 - your helmet is the U.S. 1938 Pattern tank helmet, or the Rawlings Pattern tank helmet, either name is correct. The photo of the interior shows a M7 or N7 (can't quite tell) stamped into the inside of the helmet bowl, Wilson was the only one of the four major manufacturers which did this. It is a shame the spring arms have been ripped off but it is what it is. I would not put the M1944 goggles with this helmet if you intend it to be a WWII period display, there is quite a bit of doubt as to whether the M1944 goggles were in the Army supply chain in time to be issued to tankers in WWII. For the WWII period you would want the M-1938 Tanker Goggles or the Polaroid Type 1021 All Purpose Goggles. Hope this helps.

 

Larry

[thorin6]

Thorin6 - your helmet is the U.S. 1938 Pattern tank helmet, or the Rawlings Pattern tank helmet, either name is correct. ... For the WWII period you would want the M-1938 Tanker Goggles or the Polaroid Type 1021 All Purpose Goggles. Hope this helps.

 

Larry

 

Larry,

Thanks for the info; I may have had the nomenclature for the goggles wrong; the ones I'm looking to find are the gray framed ones that I believe are the Polaroid Type All Purpose Goggles that I've seen on some of the other M1938 helmets here and on the various WWII pictures I've got of tankers in Europe June 44-May 45.

t6

[LarryM3]

Larry,

Thanks for the info; I may have had the nomenclature for the goggles wrong; the ones I'm looking to find are the gray framed ones that I believe are the Polaroid Type All Purpose Goggles that I've seen on some of the other M1938 helmets here and on the various WWII pictures I've got of tankers in Europe June 44-May 45.

t6

 

It does sound like the Polaroid goggles are what you are seeking. They were the most common tanker goggles in the ETO in the time frame you want to recreate. Fortunately they are easily found on eBay and not very expensive. Good luck with your project!

 

Larry

[max0073]

Hi,

 

nice helmet, well (but not too) worn !

 

It misses the flaps on both sides (where you have holes) to block the earphones in the flaps.

 

I don't know the purpose of the strap (spring ?) on the top.

 

Max

[Sabrejet]

These are the goggles you're referring to.

[Sabrejet]

....and these are the R-14 receivers used in tanker helmets...plus their "Y"- loom

[thorin6]

Hi,

 

. . .

I don't know the purpose of the strap (spring ?) on the top.

 

Max

 

Max,

The strap/spring on top is one of the side springs to hold the earphones in place. I have no idea why it was put through the top holes.

t6

[M24 Chaffee]

I think that this is a nice pick up. It has an interesting combat look to it. It'll be even more interesting once you add the Polaroid goggles and communication equipment. Maybe the spring/strap was placed in the top holes just to keep it with the helmet after it broke off? Perhaps it can be reattached and then you could display it from a side angle with the rest of the equipment added on?

 

Regards,

Frank

[thorin6]

Larry,

I just looked at the number inside top of the helmet, and it's an N7 in black.

 

Frank,

I was thinking of that (using the spring for just the side view) but I'll hold off until I can get the goggles and think through it a little more. Thanks for the suggestion.

t6