Military Surplus Find

[romeo-1]

The seller didn't know what it is exactly, just a large helmet. What is it exactly exactly and is the signature authentic...those are my questions.

 

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[OldSowBreath]

It just might by John Glenn's centerfuge helmet. But why "67"? He had flown long before that. https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-1XMND-Lqg8/maxresdefault.jpg

 

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[romeo-1]

Does it say "Hi-Temp" on the front? Firefighting equipment or other ground crew protection?

I doubt it is a flight helmet of any kind. With a bib like that your vision is seriously impaired as you can't turn your head. Of course, I wasn't flying jets in 1967, but I'm confident that turning your head was an important part of a pilot's ability to stay alive back then.

I agree. The helmet is not in my possession and is still at the military surplus store. I saw it there this past weekend and took two pictures as it made me curious. I asked the counter girl what it was and she had no clue...just said it was a "big helmet"...duh! I asked if it was for sale and she said that it wasn't and that the owner had it out for display. Considering what I have learned on this site I would guess that the owner is not aware of what it is. Not sure why some members of this site think I am trying to deceive them but I can assure everyone, I took the pictures seconds apart of the same helmet...it is NOT two different helmets. I'm going back there later this week so I'll take a couple more pics just for curiosity sake. I like the idea of a sand blasting helmet but I'm hoping to catch the owner so I can ask what he believes it is...

 

[HenryWaltonJonesJr]

Having the wrong case G is a huge mistake by the faker. Its possible the owner knows its fake so isn't offering it for sale. Might be an inside joke for his friends.

As far as the difference in the photos, florescent store lighting can be a pain!

 

[Retired Sarge]

The helmet depicted in picture 1, is not in my professional opinion a US flight helmet or high altitude helmet. I base this on 24 years of experience maintaining/inspecting/repairing/building USAF flight helmets. The "Bib" as pointed out by DCMatt is counterproductive of flight helmet designs and that is allowing as much movement as possible. What most people don't know is that flight helmets while affording some measure of protection, was designed as merely a suspension assembly for the communication systems, and oxygen mask.

The helmet depicted in picture 2, has the appearance of Soviet styled high altitude helmets.

As for space helmets, one must remember that they lock on to the suit. There-fore they have a locking ring/seal at the bottom, the helmet is rotated to lock/seal on to the suit.

The reason for the two different helmet remarks, is that your first picture it shows a dark flip down visor, the second picture shows no dark visor and no provision for attaching the visor. Leading to some confusion as to whether it's the same helmet or two different helmets.

Pictures 1 and 2 below show my Chinese TK-1 high attitude helmet (Chinese copy of the Soviet GSH-1 helmet) with the visor attachment assembly. This helmet is dated 1972.





The picture below shows my HGU-26/P helmet with the hard visor assembly. Helmet in use from the 60's until the early 90's.



Picture below shows my HGU-55/P helmet with the light weight visor assembly, that just snaps to the helmet. Helmet in use from the 80's to present.

 

[romeo-1]

Thank you for those comments...the difference in the tint is just an illusion from the lighting I imagine. Not sure why anyone would think I would fake a post. Even a casual glance at the two pics will show that they are the same. Note the red string in both pics...and you can even see the "signature" in the first pic...unfortunately the suspicion that I am up to something shady may have sidetracked an otherwise intelligent discussion...thanks for bringing it back on track sir!

 

[Retired Sarge]

Detailed photos would help a lot, one thing I am not seeing in the pictures are any oxygen hoses, or any provisions for attaching one. If you zoom in on my Chinese helmet you can see the hose on the bottom right side of the helmet. On high altitude helmets the O2 system is integral to the helmet, unlike normal flight helmets where the O2 mask is a separate item, as seen in the picture of my HGU-26/P helmet.

Also any labels, stickers inside or outside could help narrow it down as to what it is.

 

[Retired Sarge]

Any updates or new information on this helmet?

 

[cw0909]

yes it says agro hi temp, if you open romeo-1 img in a new window it
opens large much easier to see, i did a snip of the hi temp area of helmet

 

[cw0909]

from the cold war era in england

The pressure suit used in the Bristol 138 high altitude record research aircraft is in the collection
Research & Development Collection at Cosford | Blog | RAF Museum

 

[NHBandit]

Thank you for those comments...the difference in the tint is just an illusion from the lighting I imagine. Not sure why anyone would think I would fake a post. Even a casual glance at the two pics will show that they are the same. Note the red string in both pics...and you can even see the "signature" in the first pic...unfortunately the suspicion that I am up to something shady may have sidetracked an otherwise intelligent discussion...thanks for bringing it back on track sir!

Lighten up Francis.. Nobody accused you of doing anything unethical.. We simply thought it was a joke. You may have heard of those ? Lots of us do it all the time. My apologies.. It's a cool helmet but as others have said, the signature is clearly a fake.

 

[trdking]

Speaking of Jokes…. THis is at a Surplus store. Do you really think that if the owner of this store thought it was John Glen's helmet he would have it out for purchase or unsecured display?

I grew up going to a Government surplus store Called Oxman's in Santa Fe Springs, Calif THis old guy had all sorts of cool gadets laying around the store and he really had a sense of humor e.g. He had an old ladies permanent machine with a hundred clamps and wires and had a sign on it that said Hitlers lie detector machine.

Obviously did not belong to Hitler and obviously was not a lie detector