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Giant Pith Helmet Thread of Doom

Renault

One Too Many
Messages
1,688
Location
Wilbarger creek bottom
I've always favoured a Wolseley when in North Africa or the Levant.

FrapandBob.jpg


Wolseley! Absolument!!!!!!! 13eme DBLE Officer with Brit Redcap somewhere in the Levant, circa 1941.......

Renault
 

johnnycanuck

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,008
Location
Alberta
All right my Steampunks, I pose a question for you: I am now in the market for a Wolseley Pith helmet size 7 ½ or shall I say “Big”. Unfortunately The Village Hat Shop has discontinued the Wolseley, not to return:mad:. What is the next best place to buy one online? Remember I have a larger head so I do need larger one, one size fits most does not really work for me:(. I have a Indian pith size XL and a French Big Head version. Thank you for your attention and I look forward to your responses.
Johnny
 

johnnycanuck

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,008
Location
Alberta
Hello again. I just tried to order a Wolseley Pith Helmet size 7 ½ from WPG. Unfortunately after they got my visa charged it turns out they don’t have any 7 ½ left:(, and don’t intend on carrying them anymore:mad:. So…. Can anyone recommend anywhere else? Or am I SOL?

Johnny
 

Baggers

Practically Family
Messages
861
Location
Allen, Texas, USA
That's bad news. As far as I know WPG's was the only decent one on the market. Any others would be similar to the one billyspew posted, with a velcro adjustable sweatband. And you might still be able to find one of those on this side of the Atlantic in khaki.

Only other idea I have at this point is to start searching eBay regularly in case someone is selling theirs. It won't be mine, though. I'm hanging on to that sucker and am going to start taking better care of it now that I know I can't replace it!
 

johnnycanuck

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,008
Location
Alberta
Hats and caps do have the big head version but not in beige. Nor do they have plans to bring any in. The may be a bit of a challenge.

Johnny
 

Curmudgeon

New in Town
Messages
29
Location
Klamath County, OR
I just ordered several on the 13th from Major Surplus, including a Wolseley. They haven't arrived yet, so I have no idea what the quality is. I know it's a reproduction, and it's a one-size fits most. When it arrives I'll post up my assessment of it.

And I'll see if I can find a fat headed friend to try it for fit. :D
 

Panache

A-List Customer
Messages
344
Location
California Bay Area
Two more recent photos of my Colonial style pith helmet from the Village Hat Shop

DSC00321.jpg


At this year's Sacramento Highland Games where my lovely wife and I went with safari garb highland style!


DSC00339.jpg


Absolutely Imperial!

Cheers

Jamie
 
Messages
13,453
Location
Orange County, CA
Some rare footage from 1923 of the filming of Erich Von Stroheim's Greed in Death Valley, showing pith helmets as well as outdoorwear of the period.

[video=youtube;SRbRjg1jiOw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRbRjg1jiOw[/video]
 

Italian-wiseguy

One of the Regulars
Messages
271
Location
Italy (Parma and Rome)
For the feathers of the Bersaglieri, I presume, and not the Alpini...?

Sorry for the laaaate answer.
You were asking if in "casco coloniale M35" the pouche on a side was for the feathers of Bersaglieri, or Alpini.
Well, it depends on the side. Right side, for the numerous "wild cock" (gallo cedrone) feathers of the Bersagliere; left side for the "eagle" (actually turkey, most of the time) feather of the Alpino.

Both the corps were deployed in Africa, and both issued with the pith helmet.

Ciao!
 

Curmudgeon

New in Town
Messages
29
Location
Klamath County, OR
I just ordered several on the 13th from Major Surplus, including a Wolseley. They haven't arrived yet, so I have no idea what the quality is. I know it's a reproduction, and it's a one-size fits most. When it arrives I'll post up my assessment of it.
Well, no hats. I ordered and my VISA was charged immediately. I have had no communication from Major Surplus since. So on the 31st I called them. The helmets are out of stock, were out of stock when I ordered, and they don't know when they will arrive. Yet on their website my order shows "Complete" and "Waiting to Ship." No indication that anything is out of stock or backordered.

I told the lady to cancel the order, and she promised she would send an email confirmation of the cancellation immediately. It's been two days now (June 2nd) and I haven't heard a word from them. Great customer service all 'round.

Major Surplus & Survival is a company I will NOT do business with again. If anyone here has had a better experience with them, I would welcome hearing about it.

JP
 

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