Giant Pith Helmet Thread of Doom

[Mike K.]

Oh Cookie,
you're a laugh-a-minute,
for about 30 seconds...

lol lol lol

 

[rgraham]

One from the bay

Here is a helmet I purchased off the bay about nine years ago. It shows the thickness of the pugaree, and the detail of the sweatband. It seems that the one for sale at WPG would be the closest to the original. It would be nice to see what the sweatband and suspension system looked like.

<a href="http://s342.photobucket.com/albums/o423/rgraham_album/?action=view&current=frontview.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o423/rgraham_album/frontview.jpg" border="0" alt="front view"></a>
<a href="http://s342.photobucket.co...sideview.jpg" border="0" alt="side view"></a>
<a href="http://s342.photobucket.com/albums/o423/rgraham_album/?action=view&current=3-4rearview.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o423/rgraham_album/3-4rearview.jpg" border="0" alt="3/4 rear"></a>
<a href="http://s342.photobucket.com/albums/o423/rgraham_album/?action=view&current=insidedetail.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o423/rgraham_album/insidedetail.jpg" border="0" alt="inside view"></a>

 

[Matt Crunk]

I can't believe some of you would hesitate to wear your pith helmets in public.

It may look silly wearing one to the office or down a city street, because that's not the environment it was designed for. But I have no problem wearing mine sailboating, canoeing, hiking, or any other outdoor activity where I need good suncover.

It only starts to look odd if you try to compliment it with a safari jacket and jodphurs.

 

[BellyTank]

It only starts to look odd if you try to compliment it with a safari jacket and jodphurs.

No, no, no...
that's when it looks perfect.


B
T

 

[Panache]

...It only starts to look odd if you try to compliment it with a safari jacket and jodphurs.

Hmmm...I think I have to respectfully disgree. I think with a pith helmet it really should be all or nothing. (Says Panache who has a safari jacket and a horsetail fly whisk en route to him in the mail as he writes this!)

Cheers

Jamie

 

[Lensmaster]

I can't believe some of you would hesitate to wear your pith helmets in public.

It may look silly wearing one to the office or down a city street, because that's not the environment it was designed for. But I have no problem wearing mine sailboating, canoeing, hiking, or any other outdoor activity where I need good suncover.

It only starts to look odd if you try to compliment it with a safari jacket and jodphurs.

I just saw Clark Gable in the movie They Met in Bombay. The movie takes place in India. And Gable looks quite at ease wearing a three piece suit and pith helmet. Of course Gable looks at ease wearing most anything.

 

[LordBest]

My new Wolseley* Pith Helmet, the same sort Village Hat Shop sell, I believe.

Unfortunately I am not allowed to wear it on public, for I shall be disowned and exiled.

*Actually Foreign Service pattern, thanks Baggers.

 

[John in Covina]

I have one that is a more modern style and use it when riding the lawn tractor doing the front or the big athletic field in back at church.

 

[Baggers]

With all due respect LordBest, your helmet is not a Wolseley pattern helmet but the earlier Foreign Service pattern helmet. Rgraham's helmet a few posts above is a Wolseley.

Cheers!

 

[LordBest]

Thank you for correcting me, I appreciate it. I shall update my records. Foreign Service pattern sounds really rather impressive. Whatever it is called I love the way it looks and feels.

With all due respect LordBest, your helmet is not a Wolseley pattern helmet but the earlier Foreign Service pattern helmet. Rgraham's helmet a few posts above is a Wolseley.

Cheers!

 

[RPeers]

The Coolest Pith Helmet You've Seen Today

A friend of mine owns a framing studio and art gallery. This pith helmet is owned by one of his clients. I thought that some of you may find this an interesting piece of art.

Enjoy

 

[carter]

Hmmm...

That is interesting and thought provoking. Thanks for posting.

 

[dhermann1]

Just a bunch of "regular" guys

This helmet has to have an interesting history. It sure looks WW II vintage, and the general theme suggests that a whole lot of guys stationed somewhere were having serious tummy troubles. Looks more like American than British jargon, so my general guess would be the South Pacific somewhere. I tried to Google that artists name, R Skuce???, but got nothing.
This could be an actual art category: military vernacular cartoon humor. I have a piece from WW II done by Fred Rhoades of the USMC Leatherneck, featuring my mom and Qizmo and Eightball, and a WW I vintage footlocker of my grandfather's that also features similar cartoon art. Fun stuff. But this one is reeeallly right up there.
For starters, I'll bet someone here can identify the specific style of helmet.

 

[mwelch8404]

Provenance?

 

[zetwal]

Notice the nicknames - Frog and Bull and Firecracker. Very nice.

 

[dhermann1]

BTW, does the owner know that this helmet had been plastered all over the internet? Are we sure he won't mind???

 

[RPeers]

No unfortunately I have not been able to ask the owner of the pith helmet for expressed permission to show these shots, however I do have permission to take a picture of the unpaid for plexi-glass case in which it is being stored... so if you can see the pith helmet through the box that is not my fault and I take no responsibility

RPeers

BTW, does the owner know that this helmet had been plastered all over the internet? Are we sure he won't mind???

 

[BellyTank]

Yep.
Coolest one today.


B
T

 

[feltfan]

Really great to see it, thanks.
Any information on the cartoonist?

 

[demian]

That *is* very interesting.

Thanks for sharing.