Tag Archives: Pressed Fiber

The Camouflage Pressed Fiber Helmet

CamoFiber1

The American pressed fiber sun helmet still remains very much a mystery at times. Its history hasn’t been well documented and while the research continues it isn’t clear when or even why changes to the patterns were made. What is notable is that the helmet appears to have gone through an evolution.

Now an interesting example has been discovered and it remains the only such one of its type. As seen above it is a camouflage version, which likely dates from the early 1940s. It features three grommet holes on each side, which are used to hold the liner and chinstrap in place. Remnants of the leather chinstrap remain. This helmet lacks the front grommet typically seen in helmets produced expressly for the USMC. Continue reading →

Evolution of the American Pressed Fiber Helmet

Part of the author's collection of Pressed Fiber Helmets

Part of the author’s collection of Pressed Fiber Helmets

Sadly little has been written on the American “Pressed Fiber Helmet,” which actually was in service longer than other other helmet with the American military. While we’ve previously noted that this pattern helmet was produced by two companies – Hawley Products and International Hat Company – little of its history and variations have been chronicled.

While a definitive timeline is still very much a point of conjecture and speculation, this author has attempted to create a reasonable timeline of that follows the evolution of the helmets.

Continue reading →

Art of the Helmet

WakeIsland1

The American pressed fiber sun helmet that was introduced just prior to World War II, and remained in service well into the 1990s by some USN units has the distinction of being the longest continually used helmet in the American military history. The helmets aren’t typically hard to find either, and often lack little in character.

However as these examples can attest some owners knew how to give their helmets some personal style. Continue reading →