Draft:Helmets Limited

MOVED TO Helmet Integrated Systems

Helmets Limited was a British Helmet company. Founded in 1924 on the 24th of October, Its factory would be based at Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire. The buildings used by Helmets Ltd are Grade 2 Listed.

Although Helmets Ltd would produce many sorts of helmets, it would be most known for its Firefighting Helmets, which would change to 'Cromwell' around the 70s.

The founders:

• John Blott, Chairman from 1924-1961.
• Henry Hobson, Managing Director from 1924-1948.
• Thomas J. Noblett, Manager/Director from 1924-1940.

Early Days

E Day, who owned Hat Makers of St Albans, would file for bankruptcy in 1923 and would put his company up for sale. E Day's misfortune would create Helmets LTD, resulting in four men coming together to buy Day's Helmet Selection. One of those men, John Blott, was a director of a company making millitary equipment called Barrow Hepburn & Gale (formally Alexander Ross) of Bermondsey and would put up £1000 and become chairman. Whilst the other three, T.H. Hobson who contributed £1000 also, Hobson's son Henry who worked for days leading to getting Managing Director, and Thomas Noblett who put up £500 and was appointed Manager.

Helmets Limited would only come into existence on the 24th of October, 1924. It would start work from rented buildings in Alma Road, St Albans. They would produce Tropical Helmets for services.

Yet issues would arise quickly after. Webdale's (As it was known) proved too big and too expensive, Thomas Noblett took some men over to Wheathampstead and would set to work turning the old Malthouse building into a factory.

Fred Hodgins, a worker who retired in 1967, remembers the work well. 'We removed the middle floor, and it took the three of us all summer.'

Millitary Helmets

During World War II, the production of Wolseley's (Pith helmets) would begin from 1941 to 1943. Although there is limited information on which military groups used them, a source shows one bearing a Canadian General Service Cap Badge.

Helmets Ltd would produce, for Royal Air Force, cloth helmets. The Type G flying helmet would be fully wired, with a good flexible loom, receivers, and a NATO plug. It would also come with Leather Earpads, with oxygen mask hooks on both sides. With a similar appearance to the ones used in World War II, this example was likely used during or after the war.

The 1970s would see RAF Flying helmets be produced. In the reference, the helmet would be owned by Mick Anderson (Passed in 2014). A crewman in the RAF Wessex Search and Rescue, who operated the helicopters for many years.

Biker Helmets

Sources:

https://collection.powerhouse.com.au/object/78280 Powerhouse (Australia), Crash Helmet made by Helmets LTD

Fire Fighting Helmets

Helmets Limited started production of Firefighting Helmets around the 1930s, the London Fire Brigade would commission around 100 prototypes of a Cherry Red helmet. It would be called a 'Cherry Red' due to the unusual red colour it had. A trial of the old, and outdated, Merryweather & Sons Brass helmets proved how strong and durable these new, and evolutionary, Cork helmets were. In the test, a slab or rock was dropped onto both. The results were:

• The Merryweather & Sons helmet crushed. It would prove how unprotective the helmets were.
• The new Cork helmet would show little damage. A few scuffs of course from the hit but would keep the user safe in a fire.

A few years later closer to the 1940s, London Fire Brig,ade would again come to them for another batch of Cork helmets. These would feature a 'Gold' or 'Silver' comb (varying on the rank) and would be referred to as the first 'Step and Stairs'. This was due to the comb's appearance of stairs. Though in 1941, LFB would merge into the National Fire Service. Although some Firemen at the time kept their cork helmets, many would receive the regular NFS Brodie.

The London Fire Brigade shown wearing the new prototype 'Cherry Reds' in 1936.

This would influence many brigades after World War II to start ordering helmets from Helmets Limited. Due to the safeness of the helmets. Although the most popular pattern would be the 'Middlesex' pattern.

The 1970s would turn into a new era of Firefighter helmets. With the production of the Cromwell 'F135' or 'F335'. They would produce three patterns:

• Cromwell County F135 = A regular Cromwell Cork with a rounded-off peak.
• Cromwell County F135 London Pattern = Featuring a more pointed peak. Like the traditional helmets which wouldn't feature a rounded-off peak.
• Cromwell F335 Middlesex = A mix of the new, revolutionary County F135 and the original Middlesex. Featuring the two-tiered comb, although shorter, and a pointed peak.

Queen Elizabeth II in 1974 visiting Lambeth, London Fire Brigade's Headquarters. Some firefighters can be seen wearing the 'Step and Stairs' pattern.

The first helmets would begin production in 1970. It was all black until later on in the 1970s after it was required for all Firefighting helmets to be 'Plain Yellow' or 'White with Black Comb'. The helmets would feature an inner of ABS plastic, The exterior of Cork, layered over with Canvas, and a brim. The brim would usually match the colour of the original helmet's colour, although some Yellow or White helmets will feature different colours underneath. This was mainly due to the personnel just painting over the old colour due to the colour change or rank up.

Even though some brigades tried to get many to use these new helmets, some would opt into using the older Middlesex, Arden, Step and Stairs or a Hendry Metro (Not made by Helmets Ltd). Some examples still exist of painted-over helmets which were used up until the 1990's.

Another invention Helmets Ltd would try would be the 'Firepro'. A more modern attempt at the Cromwell County F135 pattern. Yet it was an unpopular attempt. It would feature a smooth exterior made of fibreglass, a black rubber trim, and a completely different liner. It would also include a hole in the green plastic inside for a 'Visor Mount'. Many Firefighters at the time denied the design due to it looking too modern, meaning it would never properly take off.

Sources:

http://www.sawbridgeworthfirebrigade.co.uk/helmets_history.htm, Sawbridgeworth Fire Brigade, Helmets History.

http://www.spanglefish.com/hot-lids/index.asp?pageid=291201 Hot-Lids, A gallery of many of the Firefighting Helmets produced by Helmets Ltd.

Other Helmets

Later on, Helmets Ltd would start production of Custodian Helmets for the Police Service. They would compete against Christys of Stockport and Compton Webb of Stockport. Although the design of Christys would look massively different to Helmets Limited's design, Comptons would look identical next to Helmets LTD's design. Due to the similar design in the same, Dark Blue, colour compared to Christys' and Black colour.