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US WWI "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 paint finish is very smooth.

The particular version shown here has several interesting aspects. Among them are:

  1. The liner employed was the style commonly used during WWI.
  2. The liner is attached to the body of the helmet via the use of springs.
  3. The liner has a padded "crown" which is attached to the helmet with a rivet that can be seen on the top of the helmet.
  4. The crown is secured to the frame of the liner using 4 brown snaps.
  5. The ridges that are formed around the perimeter of the helmet are caused by defects in the manufacturing process.  After having mastered the process the bumpiness was smoothed out.





A rubberized liner was placed around the circumference of the headliner. Below that there is felt like material also following the contour of the circle. Many of the helmets were equipped with a WWI chin strap. This particular sample has a non-opening strap made of the same type of canvis as the WWI chin strap.

The chin strap would attach to a fixed D-bail which was welded to the body of the experimental helmet.





This is a closer look at the spring suspension built into the helmet. The idea was that the coils would mitigate the bouncing of the helmet as the soldiers ran and would provide more protection when hit by an object.





The top of the helmet has a cross member to provide additional support. This is where the padding would be placed to make it more comfortable to wear. There are traces where the pad was affixed but it must have come off previously.

The Liberty Bell experimental helmet is one of the most commonly found examples among experimental helmets.




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.

WANT TO LEARN MORE?
  1. FAQ's
  2. Experimental helmet anatomy
  3. Identifying fakes and reproductions
  4. Stamps and manufacturing markings
  5. Construction materials
  6. Pins, hinges and other
  7. Perspective view
  8. Purchasing WWI US Headgear



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.



PRICING GUIDE INFORMATION

The value for the US WWII helmets and other military antiques and collectibles is provided as a means to educate the collector community and individuals who have a general interest on the field. The following is an estimated value. Prices may vary in every state and every country. This service is provided courtesy of MilitaryItems.com . The source for military antiques and collectibles in the web.

Year 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Value $2,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Availability Very rare Very rare Very rare Very rare Very rare
Invest Grade A+ A+ A+ A+ A+


While the item featured here is not for sale, similar items like it are available for purchase in our website MilitaryItems.com


 
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