Army Helmet Lining

From Swift Current Museum

Accession Number 1972.21.51b

Description American M1 WWII high pressure combat helmet liner. Rounded crown, not much of a brim except a slight downward angled peak at the front, canvas chin strap and suspension inside, weave of the compressed and hardened canvas is visible on lining. The M1 helmet was used by the United States military from World War II until 1985. This particular liner example was manufactured by Westinghouse Electric Co. between 1942 and the end of the war due to manufacturing characteristic such as khaki straps, ventilation hole, and maker mark. The M1 is two "one-size-fits-all" helmets—an outer metal shell, sometimes called the "steel pot", and a hard hat–type liner. Helmet covers and netting would be applied by covering the steel shell with the extra material tucked inside the shell and secured by inserting the liner. The liner is made from many parts. The outer part is shaped to fit snugly into the steel shell. The various elements of the suspension system are riveted, later clipped, inside it. The suspension is made from strips of webbing material stretching around and across the inside of the liner. A sweatband is mounted onto these, which is adjusted to fit around the head of the wearer. World War II and Korean War era liners also have their own chinstrap made from brown leather. The liner chinstrap is snapped or riveted directly to the inside of the liner and does not have bails like the shell chinstrap, but it still swivels inside the helmet. The liner chinstrap is usually seen looped over the brim of the shell and helps to keep the shell in place when its own chinstraps aren't in use. Shell for liner is 1972.21.51a. According to the donor card it is Canadian and post-WWII, this is incorrect, though some surplus examples saw later use.

Materials Hardened Canvas

Marks/Labels Name "Schultz" is handwritten on the front, as is some other writing that is difficult to make out "George Frost Co." and some numbers are stamped on the reverse side of a length of canvas inside the helmet

Category Personal Artefacts, Clothing – Headwear, Helmet