M1 Helmet storage/display hell

[pacreamer]

Hey All,

 

I live in Colorado. It is for the most part incredibly dry here year round. I mainly collect m1’s and have noticed that some of my liner sweatbands and liner chinstraps are drying out more than I’d like to see. 
 

Does anyone have any storage recommendations? They currently sit on an open bookcase. 

[Persian Gulf Command]

You need to have your helmets, for the sake of the webbing and leather, in an enclosed space. If you want them visible perhaps a cabinet with glass. The circulating air moving around the helmet 24/7 is drying everything out.  

[pacreamer]

I don’t need to have them on display. Also not sure I’d be able to get a glass display case anytime soon. 
 

Seems like boxing them up and storing them away would reduce air flow. Does anyone do this?

[VietnamCollectors2823]

Here from Colorado as well. I have never had a problem with this? How long have they been sitting there?

[Persian Gulf Command]

Remember that anything we collect from WW2 was never designed to last 80+ years. Some of it has and a lot of that are items that were luckily or intentionally taken care of and protected.

[pacreamer]

I’ve been in my current home for 5 years. 
 

Any advise for proper long term storage is much appreciated. 

[gitana]

Stable temp and humidity is always the goal. If you can keep the temperature comfortable and the humidity around 45%, that's about as good as you can do. Better than putting the stuff in boxes in the attic or garage that isn't climate controlled. Maybe a humidifier would help. Depending on what you have, using archival storage/display materials is also recommended. 

If you prefer to keep your collection in boxes, maybe wrap each piece in muslin and put it in a box. Just leave the box in the climate controlled area. But at that point I'd ask myself why am I keeping this stuff. 

[pacreamer]

@gitana thanks for that info. Humidity or the lack of humidity is my issue in Colorado. I think I’ll have to start being able to better control that factor in my house. The wife has been talking about getting a whole house humidifier anyway so I’m sure that would be a huge help.