Did I acquire a TS-3 steel helmet today?

[Paul Reijnders]

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[Paul Reijnders]

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[Paul Reijnders]

The development of the liner for the steel body was a joint project, of the Ordnance Department, the Quartermaster Corps, and private industry. The liner which was initially developed for the new pot-shaped helmet had its origins in the plastic football helmet and suspension invented and patented by John T.Riddell. Riddell had established a Chicago based company that manufactured a wide range of football equipment. A member of the Infantry Board, Colonel H.G.Sydenham was approached by Mr.Riddell, who suggested his football helmet be used in the training of parachute troops. Colonel Sydenham, along with others at the time, was responsible for developing a new combat helmet. As a result of this meeting, a modified form of the Riddell Football helmet was used as the basis for the liner of the new helmet. Soon after, the two pieces came together as the model for the new helmet assembly, the body and the liner. This new experimental helmet was then field tested at Fort Benning, and after receiving approval from the War Department, the Ordnance Department was allowed to continue with further experimentation. Since the Riddell experimental liner seemed to work, the company was asked to look into the possibility of manufacturing the liner out of plastic by an injection molding process. The company did so, but the resulting liner was too heavy to be considered at the time and until better techniques of plastic manufacture could be achieved, an alternative to plastic was sought. By February 1941, a plastic alternative for the helmet liner was much sought after. McCord Radiator and manufacturing Company, which was recently awarded a contract to produce 200 sets of experimental sample helmet bodies and liners, sought on its own to find a liner alternative. McCord, aware of the tropical helmets then being manufactured, turned to their manufacturer, the Hawley Products Company at St.Charles, Illinois.

 

[Paul Reijnders]

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[Paul Reijnders]

This new combination of helmet body and liner was then designated as the model TS-3. The helmet then underwent additional tests by the Infantry Board. As a result of these tests, the Infantry Board found that the TS-3 was “most promising” and selected it for further ballistic and service tests at the Watertown arsenal. By late spring of 1941, the tests were over, and the final report was submitted by the Aberdeen Proving Ground. The conclusion of this report stated the following: “The experimental Helmet, TS-3 is ballistically superior to the requirements for the military helmet”. Shortly thereafter, the standardization of the experimental Helmet TS-3 as the Helmet, Steel, M-1, was approved on 9 June 1941.

Regards, Paul

[Paul Reijnders]

Since the liner out of plastic by an injection molding process was too heavy, an alternative was sought. By February 1941, McCord Radiator and manufacturing Company, which was recently awarded a contract to produce 200 sets of experimental sample helmet bodies and liners, sought on its own to find a liner alternative. McCord, aware of the tropical helmets then being manufactured, turned to their manufacturer, the Hawley Products Company at St.Charles, Illinois. The Hawley Products Company had been producing their tropical helmets since 1933, when the company first manufactured and supplied the tropical helmets te concessionaires at the Chincago World’s Fair. McCord, with no official orders or specifications asked Hawley Products to come up with a liner based on their tropical fiber helmet and incorporating the Riddels suspension system. The Hawley Products Company agreed to accept the task on the chance that it might later receive a sub-contract from McCord. The Hawley and McCord companies worked quickly and pooled their resources on the chance that what they were creating might just be the Army wanted. In early April 1941, the companies completed manufacture of a set of 200 experimental sample liners wich were immediately sent to the U.S.Army. By late April 1941, the companies received word from the U.S.Army Quartermaster that the helmet liner was acceptable. The gamble for the companies had paid off

 

One of the 200 originals made for testing

 

[Paul Reijnders]

And this super, isn't it ?

 

SAMPLE FROM
HAWLEY PRODUCTS CO.
ST.CHARLES ILL.

 

[Paul Reijnders]

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[Paul Reijnders]

See the extra snap-in !!! Para ?

 

[jpstout]

Great information, Paul! Thanks for taking time to share this valuable data.

 

regards,

pat

[Grant G.]

Thank you, Paul! I had never seen one of these sample sets, 200 is an awfully small number!

[Schnicklfritz]

Thanks for posting these helmets up Paul. I always wondered what the experimental ones looked like.

[Der Finn]

Thank you very much, Paul and Scott. I am now satisfied that this is not a TS-3; the photo of the fixed bail was the clincher! Thanks again for providing me and other members with such detailed

information.

[Paul Reijnders]

Great information, Paul! Thanks for taking time to share this valuable data.

 

regards,

pat

 

Hello Pat,

 

I think it's an important devellopment period, I like to know as much as possible

and I hope other collectors will ad info they have.

 

Regards, Paul

[Paul Reijnders]

Thank you, Paul! I had never seen one of these sample sets, 200 is an awfully small number!

 

Grant, I don't know if there are more left behind, untill now I never see one

 

Regards, Paul

[Paul Reijnders]

Thanks for posting these helmets up Paul. I always wondered what the experimental ones looked like.

 

There are several experimental helmets made between 1920 and 1940

This is the last devellopment just before the M-1

 

Regards, Paul

[Paul Reijnders]

Thank you very much, Paul and Scott. I am now satisfied that this is not a TS-3; the photo of the fixed bail was the clincher! Thanks again for providing me and other members with such detailed

information.

 

You are welcome

 

Regards, Paul

[Grant G.]

I'm sure Paul has already seen this, but I stumbled upon an image of Patton wearing, what looks to be, an early liner for the experimental TS-3 helmet.

 

[B24AT6]

That is definitely the type of liner he is wearing. It and Patton's TS-3 are currently on display at the Patton museum.

[USMC-RECON0321]

Paul, Scott and Ian, Great information provided in this thread and why it's nice to have advanced collectors who stick it out here to educate others with detailed explanations!

 

Troy

[Paul Reijnders]

Patton is wearing one of these 200 first made Hawley liners, please read back and start on #31

 

Regards, Paul

 

[David D]

Very informative topic.

[Ronnie]

Great stuff Paul!

Ronnie

[Cap Camouflage Pattern I]

SC 122390 Soldier holding fiber helmet in right hand, and steel helmet in left hand which covers fiber helmet. When marching the fiber helmet is worn, while the steel top is suspended on the back. New type helmet and combat pack, Ft. Benning, Ga. August 13, 1941.

[Cap Camouflage Pattern I]

SC-122391