David D Posted December 28, 2016 Share #1 Posted December 28, 2016 I am looking to get into WWI collecting, and I was wondering is the asbestos pad inside a M1917 helmet something to worry about? Sorry for the silky question Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkash23686 Posted December 28, 2016 Share #2 Posted December 28, 2016 You're fine unless you lick it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warguy Posted December 28, 2016 Share #3 Posted December 28, 2016 Actually asbestos causes mesothelioma two ways, by inhaling fibers which results in the disease forming in the lining of the lungs or by swallowing the fibers and the disease forms in the lining of the stomach. If you stay away from tearing apart liners so the fibers don't become airborne you are likely just fine. I wouldn't stick your face Iin the liner either, but that is just me. We are still surrounded by asbestos in dry wall, floor tiles, old heaters, brake pads, etc. Usually Not an issue unless you start to break it apart. I lost my father, the best man I will ever know to this disease. He was a boiler tender on a destroyer in the late 50's and remembered tearing apart insulation to fix pipes. It can take 25-30 years to manifest and I am glad I had him as long as I did. He passed at age 53, still far too young. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted December 28, 2016 Share #4 Posted December 28, 2016 As already mentioned, it won't be a problem unless you try tearing it out of the helmet. Also, the amount is very small and really poses a minimal risk. As long as the fibers remain undisturbed(ie: licking, ingesting, snorting, chewing, mixing into your latte, etc.) you'll have a safe helmet to display. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David D Posted December 28, 2016 Author Share #5 Posted December 28, 2016 Thanks guys! I feel a lot better with buying one now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aef1917 Posted December 29, 2016 Share #6 Posted December 29, 2016 The asbestos is between the wool felt pad and the helmet shell, so if the felt pad is in good shape, there is really nothing to worry about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camaro69427 Posted January 2, 2017 Share #7 Posted January 2, 2017 Not that you should do it to a 100 year old helmet, but would wearing one create a higher risk for the disease? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conn Posted January 4, 2017 Share #8 Posted January 4, 2017 never disturb asbestos. Period ! it takes only one tiny minute fiber to start the disease that can kill you. it gets airborne and can get inhaled by someone else also. some people will be around it all their lives, and never get sick. why take the chance. it usually take years to get you sick from exposure. I have seen some collectors encapsulate it with clear coat brushed on. does it do the job ? I do not know what percent of the fibers become encapsulate. does anyone have any ideas of encapsulation and with what ? do not use a spray application unless in a proper environment for the job. my two cents semper fi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88thcollector Posted January 4, 2017 Share #9 Posted January 4, 2017 I don't think WW1 vets had an unusually high rate of mesothelioma. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jguy1986 Posted January 4, 2017 Share #10 Posted January 4, 2017 You're fine unless you lick it. Asbest-O's -- part of a complete breakfast! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted January 4, 2017 Share #11 Posted January 4, 2017 I don't think WW1 vets had an unusually high rate of mesothelioma.Agreed, as long as this stuff stays under the felt pad and the pad is not removed, then it is safe. If the pad is missing, just leave the asbestos alone. I suppose, as was mentioned earlier, it could be encapsulated but as long as it isn'the picked at but sits on a shelf, it's going to be fine. Finally, as for wearing it: Why would you want to wear it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heptonic48 Posted April 22, 2018 Share #12 Posted April 22, 2018 Agreed, as long as this stuff stays under the felt pad and the pad is not removed, then it is safe. If the pad is missing, just leave the asbestos alone. I suppose, as was mentioned earlier, it could be encapsulated but as long as it isn'the picked at but sits on a shelf, it's going to be fine. Finally, as for wearing it: Why would you want to wear it?For the immersive experience.haha Sent from my SM-J727VPP using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben@HI Posted April 23, 2018 Share #13 Posted April 23, 2018 Is it really even asbestos? Doesn't look like any I ever saw and it doesn't really make sense to put it there. It's not like you need a fire retardant shield on top your head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5thwingmarty Posted April 24, 2018 Share #14 Posted April 24, 2018 The asbestos is a white, thick-paper-looking disk adhered to the top of the helmet. I presume it was there to possibly insulate the top of the head from the heat of the helmet. I don't think the same style helmets from WWII had this asbestos bit in them as the suspension was different. WWI gas masks also contained asbestos as part of their filters so I would not try any of those on either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted April 24, 2018 Share #15 Posted April 24, 2018 Is it really even asbestos? Doesn't look like any I ever saw and it doesn't really make sense to put it there. It's not like you need a fire retardant shield on top your head.Yes, it is asbestos used for the reasons 5thwingmarty stated. Remember, in WWI they saw asbestos as an insulator, heat disipator, filter, etc. and not as a cancer causing agent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRIS FORD Posted April 29, 2018 Share #16 Posted April 29, 2018 Actually asbestos causes mesothelioma two ways, by inhaling fibers which results in the disease forming in the lining of the lungs or by swallowing the fibers and the disease forms in the lining of the stomach. If you stay away from tearing apart liners so the fibers don't become airborne you are likely just fine. I wouldn't stick your face Iin the liner either, but that is just me. We are still surrounded by asbestos in dry wall, floor tiles, old heaters, brake pads, etc. Usually Not an issue unless you start to break it apart. I lost my father, the best man I will ever know to this disease. He was a boiler tender on a destroyer in the late 50's and remembered tearing apart insulation to fix pipes. It can take 25-30 years to manifest and I am glad I had him as long as I did. He passed at age 53, still far too young. Kevin As did I ..my grandfather..a pipefitter at Ford Motor Company..it didn't get him till he was 76 though..and they did the asbestos work in the 70's and early 80's..removal..with out proper protective equipment..for years the x-ray showed anomalies..but he was just told it was scar tissue. Even had a class action against FOMOCO..but he wasn't rewarded much..seems the lawyers were the only ones to profit from that. Died from Stage 4 lung cancer.. Sad, really..asbestos is NO joke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippo88 Posted October 19, 2021 Share #17 Posted October 19, 2021 New guy chiming in but I do have some "life experience" with these old helmets 1- Leave it alone. Even if the wool felt pad is damaged- the helmet sitting on shelf or on a foam head it wont hurt anyone or anything. Asbestos IS dangerous- but it doesn't have a mind of its own and wont crawl out and seek your lungs. If the wool pad is intact you have even less to worry about. Just don't screw with it 2- This is NOT advice but its what I have done when I have refurbed a couple of these. If you have to take the old liner out for some reason, submerge the helmet fully in hot water with some dawn soap, let its soak and keeping the helmet UNDERWATER the pad and the asbestos mesh will usually just fall out in a complete unit as the 100+ year old adhesive is gone or near enough to where the soapy water dissolves it, - dispose of the pad carefully in a sealed bag while still wet and soapy. The issue is in the 21st century we have become so out of tune between common sense and actual safety that when we now even hear the word "asbestos" we run around in a panic. Fact is YES asbestos is bad, but the amount in total of a WW1 helmet is not the same exposure, even if you tried as some guy working in a shipyard for 30 years or a pipefitter (my trade) for the same. Just use common sense and you will be fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmar836 Posted October 19, 2021 Share #18 Posted October 19, 2021 Same with lead. It's silly, really. My uncle was on ships during the war and many factories after. Breathing asbestos and all in factories and to think the lead paint he splashed... it finally got him in his early 80s. Okay, so he smoked like a chimney too but the asbestos and lead is what finally got him. Come to think of it, all my elderly relatives died from these dangerous materials. It's serious. Any militaria with lead or asbestos you are afraid of send to me. I still sweat in real copper pipes with real lead and occasionally use asbestos when welding. What can I say, I must not care about my health but some stuff had properties that worked. Be wise about it and don't be overly safety-scared about it. Not a big deal. Rant over, going for a run! D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippo88 Posted October 20, 2021 Share #19 Posted October 20, 2021 On 4/23/2018 at 2:11 PM, Ben@HI said: Is it really even asbestos? Doesn't look like any I ever saw and it doesn't really make sense to put it there. It's not like you need a fire retardant shield on top your head. It is just for that reason. It was a wonder product of its time and used to insulate everything they could stick it into. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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