pararaftanr2 Posted February 6, 2011 Share #76 Posted February 6, 2011 Hi Jerry and All, Since you noted a lack of posters in this topic recently, I thought I'd share a project from last year. This small grouping of two flight helmets and a set of goggles was attributed to a Navy flier's estate. As you can see by the seller's photos, the condition was less than perfect: I thought they were salvageable and the price turned out to be reasonable. After a gentle cleaning and some leather dressing for the ear cups, I installed earphones in both helmets. The goggles were a bit more challenging, but with a brass brush, the corrosion came off the frames and ferules. Pad and strap were also replaced. I felt the end result was worth the effort. They are still salty, but more representative of how they would appear in service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted February 6, 2011 Share #77 Posted February 6, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted February 6, 2011 Share #78 Posted February 6, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted February 6, 2011 Share #79 Posted February 6, 2011 Best regards, Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry_k Posted February 7, 2011 Share #80 Posted February 7, 2011 Good job Paul! Looks much better after Your small restoration process:) Regards, Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted February 8, 2011 Share #81 Posted February 8, 2011 Thanks Jerry. Here is another one in the NAF-1092S / M-450 series. It is manufactured by Mario G. Mirabelli. These are easily recognizable in vintage photos due to the fact that this was the only manufacturer of these helmets that had external seam reinforcements. The other three manufacturers kept them inside the helmet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted February 8, 2011 Share #82 Posted February 8, 2011 The goggles are Charles Fischer Spring MK-I Pilot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted February 8, 2011 Share #83 Posted February 8, 2011 Best regards, Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dskjl Posted February 8, 2011 Share #84 Posted February 8, 2011 Extremely well put!!!!!!!....and great helmets!...I am admiring all the leather chincups!!.....mike Amen, the experienced gear is just more fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry_k Posted February 11, 2011 Share #85 Posted February 11, 2011 Another great helmet Paul. You are at different level than rest of the planet for sure Do You have also another one example of Mirabeli manufacture with oyester ear cups ??? Regards, Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted February 11, 2011 Share #86 Posted February 11, 2011 Hi Jerry, That's not true, but thanks anyway! Sorry, but it's the only example of a Mirabelli I've been able to get my hands on. I wouldn't mind having another with the tan cups though. I wonder where this guys' Mirabelli ended up? Best regards, Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted February 19, 2011 Author Share #87 Posted February 19, 2011 Paul, thanks for sharing those helmets with us. You actually did a very good job cleaning them up. What kind of brush do you use to clean them? I will post more helmets soon as I've been busy lately Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pararaftanr2 Posted February 20, 2011 Share #88 Posted February 20, 2011 Hi bazelot, You are most welcome. The brush I referred to looks like a plastic handled toothbrush, but has brass bristles. They come with fiber or steel bristles also and I use all three for different applications. I've found them at gun shows in the past. I've also seen them in a three pack at the big box home stores more recently. A word of caution though. Although the clean up of the Charles Fischer Spring goggles went well and did no damage, I've found that the plating on the American Optical manufactured AN-6530 goggles is very fragile (it has a tendency to flake off) and won't stand up well to the same treatment. I look forward to seeing more of your helmets! Best regards, Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted February 22, 2011 Author Share #89 Posted February 22, 2011 Hi bazelot,You are most welcome. The brush I referred to looks like a plastic handled toothbrush, but has brass bristles. They come with fiber or steel bristles also and I use all three for different applications. I've found them at gun shows in the past. I've also seen them in a three pack at the big box home stores more recently. A word of caution though. Although the clean up of the Charles Fischer Spring goggles went well and did no damage, I've found that the plating on the American Optical manufactured AN-6530 goggles is very fragile (it has a tendency to flake off) and won't stand up well to the same treatment. I look forward to seeing more of your helmets! Best regards, Paul THanks for the info Paul. I will buy one of those small brushes and try them on a pair of goggles I have in mind. I own around 20 pairs of AN6530 and MKII that are in excellent shape but I also have 2-3 pairs that need to be cleaned up I also did realize that some withstood the test of time better than others. You really have agreat collection. I would love to see it in person!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bebel Posted March 3, 2011 Share #90 Posted March 3, 2011 Hi guys! I do not collect ww2 USN pilots gears but love them. I read this post with big pleasure! Please do not stop it! :thumbsup: Cheers, Franck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted March 13, 2011 Author Share #91 Posted March 13, 2011 I have a few more helmets to display: M-450 helmet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted March 13, 2011 Author Share #92 Posted March 13, 2011 NAF 1092S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted March 13, 2011 Author Share #93 Posted March 13, 2011 AN6540W (winter version, helmet is made out of shearling. Mint MKII goggles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted March 13, 2011 Author Share #94 Posted March 13, 2011 AN6542 with utility goggles: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted March 13, 2011 Author Share #95 Posted March 13, 2011 AN6540 with orginal communication gear and goggles. Named to VC66 pilot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted March 13, 2011 Author Share #96 Posted March 13, 2011 AN6542S with MKII goggles and AHN-H1A communication gear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry_k Posted March 14, 2011 Share #97 Posted March 14, 2011 Glad to see the helmets about we were talking in the past !!!! Even some basic Navy flight helmets are hard and hard to find today ! Thanks for pics Tom! Regards, Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flight helmets 522 Posted March 30, 2011 Share #98 Posted March 30, 2011 The goggles are Charles Fischer Spring MK-I Pilot. Very nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flight helmets 522 Posted March 30, 2011 Share #99 Posted March 30, 2011 Hi Bazelot. Here are two of my old helmets ( nothing special but looks good ) First: Very used AN6542( late model with sewn chin strap ) with probably orginally installed TH-37 earphones with extension cord. It is not typical to see late war helmet with early war earphones(TH-37) but earcups look like receivers were there for a long time! I put under the helmet USN (very used condition with named stamp under bill "Tunner") hbt baseball cap used like a sun visor, we can see very often these type of configuration. Goggles are AN6530 with brown rubber face pad. Unusual combination with the ball cap... Makes sense... I like that you included the period photo... Phil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flight helmets 522 Posted March 30, 2011 Share #100 Posted March 30, 2011 One more for today. An un-named M-450-1 by B-G Inc. I like the stitched chin cups. Displayed with my favorite pair of AN-6530s. They are early Charles Fischer Spring with the riveted upper vents (as found on the Mk-II goggle), tan pad and are fitted with sky lookout lenses. Note the early blued hardware on the goggle strap. Great looking setup... Phil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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