US Post 1889 Tan Summer Helmet, 1899 Contract
This item is listed for historical interest only. It was listed on our site previously but has been sold and is no longer available for purchase.
Sold for: $250.00

Original era manufacture. A clean example of the second model of cork summer helmet, initially adopted in 1880. Tan cotton covered, cork body with a removable ventilator cover at the top.The body is very clean, no staining to the fabric, intact and securing sewn, thin leather sweatband, with a small paper tag in the crown displaying the 1899 contract date. There is a break in the cork body in the right rear quarter, it is nearly invisible from the outside, and nearly so on the interior.Contrary to regulations, but a practice often seen in period photographs, is the addition of a stamped brass Infantry helmet plate on the front, with matching Infantry side buttons. There is a nice old black leather chinstrap on the front, with a brass connecting buckle, typically these are seen white, however this one has been on here for a long time. I remember attending my first Great Western Show in Commerce California,  November 1975... I watched a man purchase a stack of 4 or 5 of these for $15 each. Times have changed