Bob Hudson Posted February 20, 2018 Share #1 Posted February 20, 2018 This helmet is made of a a very stiff leather, much like the leather shells of some WWI era pickelhaub helmets. On top is a thick leather cross that I assume was considered "padding" in its day. It was made by the AG Spalding Co. but there seems to be very little information about these online - what's shown here is pretty much all of the info, so if anyone has more, let us know.The photo below is from a forum thread at http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/175574-spalding-flight-helmet/And this example sold on ebay a few years back: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted February 20, 2018 Author Share #2 Posted February 20, 2018 I just noticed the cross on the middle image above is not as thick as the other two. This has a loop on the top. To fly m'lady's scarve in combat? Amazingly the leather is still supple, even the thick shell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted February 20, 2018 Author Share #3 Posted February 20, 2018 My guess is these were private purchase helmets to replace the standard soft leather helmets. Spalding was selling aviation helmets as early as 1916. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted February 20, 2018 Author Share #4 Posted February 20, 2018 The inside is in pretty decent shape too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted February 20, 2018 Author Share #5 Posted February 20, 2018 The patina is great - photos never do it justice: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted February 20, 2018 Author Share #6 Posted February 20, 2018 I found a couple more photos of the style that has a single-layer cross on the top: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted February 20, 2018 Author Share #7 Posted February 20, 2018 Thanks to my friend Lee for letting me photograph this. It is perhaps the jauntiest helmet I've ever handled: the thick shell, even thicker cross, the loop, and long apron give something of a 19th century look and feel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted February 21, 2018 Author Share #8 Posted February 21, 2018 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted February 21, 2018 Author Share #9 Posted February 21, 2018 Lindbergh wore a Spalding flight suit for his trans-Atlantic flight. I found a 1916 article that says Spalding had been in the aviator's equipment business for two years, which means thay started in 1914. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmar836 Posted February 21, 2018 Share #10 Posted February 21, 2018 Interesting stuff, Bob. Thanks for posting. Assuming they operated under contracts, I wonder how big the Spalding contracts were? Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted February 21, 2018 Author Share #11 Posted February 21, 2018 Interesting stuff, Bob. Thanks for posting. Assuming they operated under contracts, I wonder how big the Spalding contracts were? Dave So far it appears they may have only done private purchase aviator's gear, but their athletic gear was snapped up by the government for use in various camps at home and abroad. I did see that in WWII they made small arms and tank helmets under contracts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAST Posted February 21, 2018 Share #12 Posted February 21, 2018 Bob, These boiled leather aviation helmets are beautiful! I've been wanting to add one (or more) for a while. Thanks for posting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted February 22, 2018 Share #13 Posted February 22, 2018 Beautiful piece of early aviation gear! Great pics & research ads. Thanks for sharing! Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted February 22, 2018 Share #14 Posted February 22, 2018 And this great Daniel Griffin thread as well. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/215020-a-nice-wwi-hard-leather-flying-helmet/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted February 22, 2018 Author Share #15 Posted February 22, 2018 boiled leather Never heard of that (I think I've tasted it though in school cafeteria food). Turns out the boiling is not important: water hot or cold is used. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiled_leather Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted February 22, 2018 Author Share #16 Posted February 22, 2018 And this great Daniel Griffin thread as well. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/215020-a-nice-wwi-hard-leather-flying-helmet/ A great helmet AND painted insignia? Too much... I've been looking at the aviator helmet in the Spalding add: I haven't found a photo of one, but it seems to have many molded leather pieces including a visor. It seems much closer to 19th century helmets than it is to the soft leather flight helmets most commonly seen. Here's a similar molded helmet without a visor or thick outer headband. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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