M-1 Helmet Liner

Item

Title

M-1 Helmet Liner

Description

Infantry Type I original U.S. Military Issue helmet liner for the M-1 steel helmet (steel pot). Matte olive drab helmet liner with an olive drab canvas webbing suspension that is held tightly within the M-1 helmet liner by rivets and a series of triangular "A" washers. Attached to this webbing suspension by metal clips, is a brown leather sweatband. On each side of the M-1 helmet liner there are two small metal posts attached by an external cap. These studs were for the fastening of the liner chin strap (missing). Canvas webbing underneath the sweat band reads, LINER, SOLDIER STEEL HELMET(INFANTRY) TYPE 1, 26 SEPT 68 DSA-100-69C-0757

Date

Identifier

004.500.002

Medium

Provenance

1940s Westinghouse enters aviation with airborne radar (defense electronics sold 1996), jet engine propulsion, and ground based airport lighting, gets defense contract from U.S. Military to produce plastic helmet liners for the M1 Helmet. The liner is made from many parts. The outer part is shaped to fit snugly into the steel shell. The various elements of the suspension system are riveted, later clipped, inside it. The suspension is made from strips of webbing material stretching around and across the inside of the liner. A sweatband is mounted onto these, which is adjusted to fit around the head of the wearer. World War II and Korean War era liners also have their own chin strap made from brown leather. The first liners were made from compressed paper fibers impregnated with phenolic resin, but were quickly eliminated, because they degraded quickly in high humidity environments and were replaced by constantly evolving plastic liners. After World War II the cotton was changed from khaki or Olive Drab #3 to a color known as Olive Drab #7. Much later, liners switched to using stronger synthetic webbing and had improved neck support. There were many companies making liners during the war — Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company made most of them, while other companies tested, such as Firestone Tire and Rubber Company.

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