File: The M1 helmet

This file is intended more specifically to the M1 helmet, its history and how to recognize a good helmet US WW2.

A little history:

The M1 helmet was intended to replace the M1917A1 flat helmet. In height, it was in 1932 that the US Army is seeking a new helmet.

He was born in 1941 when John T.Riddel, owner of a patent for the manufacture of American football helmets plastic, was contacted by the U.S. Army who wanted to equip the crews of tanks of helmets similar to Football helmets anti-chocs.

The success of this helmet was his ingenuity and simplicity-side logistics. Indeed, while the helmets at the time were divided in several sizes, Riddle invented a helmet to single size ("One size fits all"). It is a system of adjustable CAP by canvas webbing, with a strip of leather at the level of the front which will make possible size unique, convenient when all equip an army.

Business Mac Cord Radiator Company, who received the contract for the manufacture of heavy helmets then contacted the company Hawley Products Company (then supplier of tropical helmets paper pressed for the US Army) to produce lightweight helmets, using Riddle and part of the heavy helmet.

Mac Cord then presented the helmets Hawley assessments and the helmet was approved June 09, 1941. He was in two parts: Liner + Body. This helmet in two parts, produced on a large scale, was a revolution for the time. Production began on 26 June 1941 and 323 510 copies were produced before the entry of the USA into the war, the same year.

The liner:

The liner, descendant of the tropical helmet was an excellent under helmet, to protect from rain and Sun.
Two types of Liners were produced and introduced progressively in the army:

1 1 model

This model, produced by Hawley Products Company and General Fiber Company for liners cardboard covered with canvas varnish (for waterproofing) and by other manufacturers for compressed fiber models is recognizable to the suspensions in white cloth (called "Riddle") maintained by rectangular shape bare metal plates.
The chin strap is leather and is adjustable through a simple riveted loop (Chinstrap Buckle). Therefore, it cannot withdraw it.
The head Tower banner (Sweat Band) is a simple strip of canvas with the forward (on the front) leather, adjustable with buttons pressures.
He will be replaced as early as 1942 as varnished canvas sizable easy migration, and fiber models distorted too much with the heat.

Left: Type 1 liner
Right: Type 1 liner inside, with Cap Riddle

2. 2nd model:

In June 1942, the suspension of cotton are beige (OD shade n ° 3) and green (in 1945), and are now held by metal plates in "A", called "A Washers". These plates were first bare steel for the first models (1941-1942), then painted in green (1942-1943) and finally they were produced in black anodized brass, 1944.
Head tour (Sweat band) is now fully leather and set by bare iron hooks. They will be at the same time as for the "A Washers", painted in green then produced black anodized brass.
The leather chinstrap is now clip-on to the liner (so removable) and the control system is via a clamp (first steel naked, and then painted in green and finally produced in black anodized brass).

Two types manufacturing liners coexisted: the low pressures (only produced by "The Hood Rubber Company" and "The Saint Clair Company") and high pressure. 
The low pressures were designed with simple strips of fibre soaked in resin, while high pressure were also resin lamellae, but impregnated with phenol resin and pressed at 220 ° C for 20 minutes. This last production had the advantage to make these stronger liners.

Finally, as early as 1942 plastic liners were produced. The first were those of Westinghouse, which were still equipped with the White Cap Riddle.

Left: Liner 2nd type
Medium: Interior of a lower pressure liner
Right: Interior of a liner high pressure

 

Markings:

Photo	Manufacturer	Marking	Best products	Start of manufacturing	End of production	Comments
	The Hood Rubber Company	Marking silver	206 000	April 1942	Late 1944	Liners low pressure
	The Saint Clair Company	"SC" yellow	1 300 000	April 1942	Late 1944	Liners low pressure Have a rabotte to the jugular space to better insert the heavy helmet
	The Capac Company	Cross with inscription "Capac"	2 000 000 à 4 000 000	Seven 1942	August 17, 1945	Liners high pressure
	Firestone Tire & Rubber Company	"F" in a coat of arms	7 500 000	Seven 1942	August 17, 1945	Liners high pressure
	Inland Manufacturing Division	Logo "Inland"	1 900 000 which 75,000 airborne reconditioned	Seven 1942	1943	Liners high pressure Considered the best by many
	Model international Plastics, Inc.	Snowman in a round	2 000 000 à 4 000 000	Seven 1942	August 17, 1945	Liners high pressure
	Mine Safety appliance	"MSA"	2 000 000 à 4 000 000	Seven 1942	August 17, 1945	Liners high pressure
	Seaman Paper Company	"S" in an oval	2 000 000 à 4 000 000	Seven 1942	August 17, 1945	Liners high pressure
	Westinghouse electricity company	"W" in a round	13 000 000	May 1942	August 17, 1945	Liners high pressure

The tablecloth of cotton of the liner, imposed by the QMC markings were the name of manufacturer + contract number.
The size of this band were expressed sout first with figures (1, 3, 5) and gradually replaced by words (Small, Medium, Large).

The Body:

Also called heavy helmet, the Body succeeded the flat manganese M1917A1 steel helmet. The Body, its round form and its extremely resistant material, very well protected the head of the soldier. In addition, it was not heavier than another (1, 125 kg).

This is Mc Cord Radiator Company that had the contract, because it only had the equipment to stamping the cold manganese steel. The creation of this helmet took 22 minutes to 22 operations.
Once pressed, the hull was covered on the (then sharp) edges of a thin sheet of stainless steel (rush) welded to the front of the helmet. Stainless steel was to benefit do not rust and especially do not distort devices (such as the compass). Finally, the painting OD dark and fine particles of Cork, to give the grain (on the outside), were sprayed on the hull.

The jugular of the helmet, braided cotton were attached on each side of the helmet. Left for the shorter (with hook), and right for the longest.

 

A few changes appeared over the production such as:

-In October 1944, the rush was produced in Hadfield Manganese. Indeed, stainless steel had the unfortunate tendency to lose his painting, and put metal strip reflected too light.
-From November 1944, the rush was welded to the rear.
-From 1941 until November 1943: the jugular fasteners are fixed (we talk about fixed legs)
-From October 1943, the jugular ties become mobile (we talk about mobile legs). Indeed, the fixed legs had tended to breakage than the mobile legs.

A: Fixed jugular fasteners
(B): Mobile straps attached

How to differentiate a Body Mc Cord of a Schuelter?

MC Cord (: under the visor, the serial number of the sheet steel (in upper position), and fixed legs form an angle to their fold, at 90 °)

Schuelter: Same number of sheet steel, but pressed further in the helmet. In addition, an "S" is often hit below the number.
Fixed legs are slightly rounded compared to Mc Cord.

 

Overall, higher the number under the helmet is great, more than the helmet is young!

The net:

Initially, the U.S. Army had no nets specifically designed for the M1 helmet. Brown helmets fine mesh, English and Canadians were thus distributed. Also note the use of vehicles with large mesh nets.

It was in September 1944 that regulatory nets were created. They were massively distributed as early as the end of the year 1944.

 

This article was written from various sources such as:
www.m-1helmet.com (for photos)
http://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/M1_Helmet
http://worldwarhelmets.free.fr
www.liberationlure.fr

Book:
The M1 helmetÉditions history & Collections.
IM: The collector guideÉditions history & Collections.