THE HELMET USES M1
At the outbreak of World War II, the US Army was equipped with a variant of the helmet they used during World War I, theM1917 A1.
It was not until 1940 that the need for a new helmet design for the US Army was raised, since the M1917 model was seen to be outdated as the new world conflagration was developing._cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b- 136bad5cf58d_
The new hull design was namedM1, and it began to be manufactured in 1941. It had the characteristic of being made up of 2 hulls, the exterior made of steel and the lighter interior, made (in the beginning) with cardboard lined with strips of fabric.
The outer hull made of manganese steel (only one piece), underwent some important modifications, the first designs had fixed (welded) chinstrap fastening rings, as well as the bead closure (initially made of stainless steel) of the rim of the helmet on the front. In 1943 the rings were replaced by mobile ones and in 1944 the bead on the rim was made of manganese and closed at the back.
The manufacturers of the steel hull were:
1941 -Mc Cord Radiator & Manufacturing Company - Detroit
1942 -Schlueter Manufacturing Company - St. Louis
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The shells were painted dark green with cork particles added to prevent reflections.
Regarding the inner helmet, it had a suspension of cotton strips (rayon was used in the first designs) inside in the style of rugby helmets (riddell). The main function of this inner helmet was protection against cold and heat, since it insulated the head from contact with the steel.
Markings of the different manufacturers:
The first inner helmets were manufactured by la Hawley Products Company with cardboard lined with cloth, but because its result was not adequate, in 1942 they began to be made with plastic resin and fabric. These new interiors were manufactured with two different methods, called:
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low pressure: manufactured by: Hood Rubber Company Inc. and St. Clair Rubber Company.
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high pressure: manufactured by:Capac Manufacturing Company, Westinghouse Electric, Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, Inland Manufacturing Division, Mine Safety Appliances Company, International Model Plastics, and Seaman Paper Company.
For more information:
Guide to dating the M1 helmet:
