Ten Historic Helmets (1 Viewer)

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French Experimental Helmets
From the 1890s to 1912 the French military considered a number of experimental helmets,
but all were rejected and never adopted into use


French Skull Cap
The first attempt to provide protection to a soldier's head came in early 1915 via a skull
cap that was meant to be worn under the kepi. It likely was so uncomfortable that it was
used as a mess bowl and gave rise to the myth that soldiers wore soup bowls for protection


German Spike Helmet
The leather "pickelhaube" was introduced in the Prussian Army in the 1840s and remained
in use until 1916. This wartime example (Model 1915) featured removable spike and steel
hardware. In the trenches a cover was worn over the helmet.


French Adrian Helmet
The Model 1915 was developed by Intendant-General August-Louis Adrian. It was based
on the Parisian firemen's helmets. This style helmet would be updated in 1926 and was
used throughout World War II.


British MkI
The British MkI helmet was based on a design by John L. Brodie, who based it on the medieval
"kettle hat" worn by the infantry. Like the French Model 1915 the British MkI was updated and
used throughout World War II. The pattern was also adopted by the American Expeditionary
Force as the Model 1917 and used until the beginning of the Second World War.

 

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German WWI Model 16
The German Model 1916 "Coal Scuttle" or "stahlhelm." It has been considered a superior design
as it offered more protection than the French or British patterns. It was updated in 1935 following
the rise of the Nazis in Germany and used in World War II.


American Model 2
Designed in June of 1917 this helmet aimed to protect more completely the sides and back of the
head. It was based on the "Standard" helmets of classical Greece and Italy in the 15th Century.
This experimental helmet saw limited field testing during the First World War, but it was deemed
to be too similar to the German Model 1916 helmet. Only some 2,000 Model 2 helmets were
produced. It is one of the rarest American experimental helmets as a result.


American Model 5
This helmet was designed to provide the virtues of the Model 2 with the ease in production
of the British MkI. Its dome protected the wearer's head while not impairing the vision. About
2,000 of these experimental helmets were produced by the firm of Hale and Kilburn Company.
This helmet design actually saw limited testing in the trenches in France at the end of World
War I. In the end it was deemed to look too much like the German M16 helmet and thus not
adopted by the U.S. Army.


America Model 8
This experimental helmet features a visor to protect the wearer's face almost completely.
The manufacture of this helmet, the Model 8, was undertaken by Ford Motor Company in
November 1918. About 1,300 helmets of this model were produced.


American Liberty Bell
This experimental helmet was deemed "The Liberty Bell" because of its unique shape.
It was designed by Major James E. McNary and submitted to the American Helmet Committee
for consideration as a replacement for the Model 1917 helmet. It was initially accepted but
was reportedly disliked by the troops. The helmet was officially abandoned as a replacement
helmet in 1920.