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US Army Liberty Bell Experimental Helmet -
This is a a variation of the "Liberty Bell" helmets produced for the
US army in the later part of WWI. The exact number of helmets produced is
not known but they were produced in relative quantity. The helmet was
never adopted by the US armed forces. It never left the
prototype/experimental stage.
There are no markings found in the helmet. The finish of the paint is
rough. potentially showing the cork technique using during WWII.
- The helmet shows bumpy ridges around the edge of the helmet. These
were caused due to errors in the manufacturing process. once the
technique was perfected the bumpiness disappeared.
- This helmet has the liner attached via rivets on the side. No rivet
is used at the top.
- The liner employed is typical to the WWI period.
- The leather chin strap is also the type found during the WWI period.
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This page is a recognition and identification guide for US hats and helmets. Multiple
detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out clearly defined
points that should be noted.
One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my US headgear worth?".
A price guide is included here to address this question. The value of the hats and helmets
is reviewed over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth
of US militaria in the collector's market is illustrated.
This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of
MilitaryItems.com,
a company dedicated to the preservation of military history and to providing quality military
antiques and collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public.
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This is a view of the inside of the Liberty Bell experimental helmet. The
suspension system is composed of a net covered in plastic cloth. The whole
assembly is held together to the helmet via the use of a metal ring.
The netting is reminiscent of the WWI US and British helmets. A leather chin
strap is provided. Unlike other helmets, there is no quick way to disengage the
chin strap. It has to be undone at the buckle section.
The chin strap was attached to a ring that was welded to the helmet itself. The
ring was able to move back and forth to release some of the pressure exerted
on the weld when the soldier was runing around.
This is a closer view of the inside of the helmet. A pad would normally be placed
on the "crown" section. This would make the helmet more comfortable for wear.
The netting is fabricated of cotton string. Tightening or loosening it would
provide a little vertical restriction that would control the height of the
helmet as it is placed on the soldier's head.
US headgear is currently being
reproduced.
It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because
the quality of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with
the construction style and materials employed in the manufacturing of this headgear.
Attention to the details is critical in order to be able to determine the authenticity of
the collectible.
If you have an interest is seeing other American military headgear, you can do so by
going to our US Military headgear
identification guide. Where we cover Army, Navy, Army Air Force and other organizations.
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