While the sun/pith helmet originated in India, as we have noted the British were not alone in considering the importance of such headgear in tropical climates. By the end of the 1870s France had adopted its own version and it does seem that these were influenced, and perhaps even copied, from the British pattern. However, as with the helmets made in London, the French Model 1878 pattern was made of cork, likely supplied by Portugal, and produced in Metropolitan France. Throughout its Africa and Southeast Asia colonies the French military used helmets made of cork, and this remained the case until after the Second World War.
Now an interesting example of “private purchase” French tropical helmet has shown up and it is made of sola pith – thus it is possible it was of Indian origin for export given that the France didn’t have formal colonies until the end of the 1880s in Southeast Asia. As a result, French manufacturers would not have had a direct source of sola pith.
While showing significant wear and sadly missing the ventilator cap the body of the helmet is sound – a testament to the quality of its construction.
This particular example, which is made of the aforementioned sola pith, is covered in doeskin and features a leather headband with silk lining. This suggests it was a helmet for someone of means. It is made of four panel construction, something consistent with other French helmets of the 1870s or 1880s. This is notable in that many of the private purchase/civilian sola pith helmets that the author has encountered from India are also of six panel construction – which does question the origins of the helmet.
Inside the helmet is a merchant’s label to LÉON SCHWEITZER of Alger. Colonial Algeria had been part of the French Colonial Empire since 1830.
The liner features a leather headband, adequate ventilation and a silk liner. This was clearly a helmet for someone of means.
The retailer label to “LÉON SCHWEITZER of Alger.” No information has been found regarding this particular retailer.
It should be noted that French soldiers did adopt early sun helmets, likely of Indian or British origin, during the Taiping Rebellion when the French and British fought side by side against the Chinese. That is likely the event that inspired the French military to see the benefits of tropical headgear.