While much has been written about the M1887/89 pattern American sun helmet – including by this author – there is the far less encountered M1880 helmet. This designation actually appears to have been used interchangeably over the years to describe the helmet pattern above, as well as the used by various National Guard units. Continue reading
The Sun Helmets of the Portuguese Royal Navy, 1894-1910
Officers of the Portuguese Gunship “Diu” photographed in Goa (Portuguese India) circa 1900. Both wear peaked caps with white covers.
By the end of the 19th Century, officers of the Portuguese “Armada Real” (Royal Navy) were in great need of some sort of tropical headdress. Unlike other ranks, which were supplied with large brim straw hats for tropical climates, officers had nothing to wear but their peaked caps, made hotter and heavier by the regulation white covers. Continue reading
The 59th Regiment Madras Native Infantry
Illustrated London News, July, 1857. (Author’s collection)
The above illustration, from the Illustrated London News, July 1857, piqued my interest because my main area of collecting is British military headdress; however that soon became of lesser importance. The above engraving is captioned “59th Regiment Madras Native Infantry – Sketched at Hong Kong” and its accompanying text states –
Illustrated London News, July, 1857. (Author’s collection)
Storage/Transit Tins
When officers purchased their helmets, busbies, forage caps etc. they most often also purchased a storage/transit tin to protect their valuable items of headgear.
These came in various shapes and sizes to suit the type of headgear and could be ordered in both single and double configurations. For example, a wealthy officer may have purchased both a white and a khaki helmet and might therefore order a double tin. Continue reading
Sun Helmets on Safari
In my world, the pith is not a sun helmet, but a crown.
And, to the wearers I study, the coronation is justified.
For just over a year I have been a staunch collector of not sun helmets, like my dear friend Stuart – although I dream of graduating to such an assemblage – but antique safari and big game hunting photographs, none of which are complete without firearm, fauna, and of course, the very symbol of adventure, the pith helmet. Continue reading
White Cadet Dress Helmet
The George Patton Museum at Fort Knox has been undergoing a renovation for some months, and during this time the museum offered minimal displays. Among these included various uniforms from ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Cadet) programs from the past 150 years.
This included a cadet uniform from Cornell University from 1892. What makes this particular display interesting is that it features a white helmet that is stated to be an “Army adopted… dress helmet pattern,” and noted, “Except for the white color, this helmet mirrors the infantry helmet used for the regular Army during this time.” Continue reading
Sun Helmets and Comic Books
Comic books today typically feature brooding superheroes and twisted villains bent on world domination. The days of more life-like comics are certainly a thing of the past. However, during the “Golden Age of Comic Books,” which lasted from the late 1930s to the early 1950s there were actually some comics that offered realistic settings. While not actually common, there were books – such as the above The New Two-Fisted Tales – that even featured a sun helmet or two. Continue reading