Leather helmets as winter headwear

[Mangrove]

I have been looking through literally hundreds of winter photographs taken in Finland during 1930s-60s and what I noticed is that many people wore a leather helmet as their headwear. Especially the fashion seems to have been embraced by children and loggers. Often the helmet was lined only with a thin strip of flannel. Was this fashion just a hit in Finland or was it known also in other parts of Europe and e.g. in Canada?

Photograph by kantapuu.fi

 

[Fletch]

I recall them being worn only by children, and of course motorcyclists, in old photos from the US.

They might have been worn more often in Canada. They had more of a habit of wearing fur-or-wool-lined leather coats in the cold, where Americans generally preferred woolen coats.

Farmers and workingmen more typically wore billed wool hats like the Stormy Kromer, or slouch caps that left their ears uncovered.

White-collar men stayed with the brimmed hat, and mostly left their ears unprotected, at least when cameras were around.

 

[DNO]

Knitted tuques or wool caps were more common in Canada. I don't think that sort of leather helmet was worn much at all.

 

[HatsEnough]

Flick says "Sthhhuck!"

 

[Mangrove]

The only difference between these helmets seems to be the lining and material; I have seen both cattle and moose leather used in these. Personally I would prefer the latter one.

http://www.kantapuu.fi/objectinfo.php?id=54329

http://www.kantapuu.fi/objectinfo.php?id=54357

http://karhujarvi.fi/?s=autosavotat (the one next to the driver's door)

 

[Edward]

I've toyed with the idea, but it'd have to be with a long wool coat or similar. It would look rather too, eh, eccentric even for me to wear one with an Irvin or a B3. Very happy with a B2 cap with the latter, though.

 

[Sam Craig]

Flick says "Sthhhuck!"

Last Christmas I was doing some research and found there was a website for the Christmas Story house. They were selling adult-sized Flick leather hats.

I don't know if that would be cool or not, but it is interesting!

Sam

 

[Sam Craig]

I just checked.
It's A Christmas Story House in the search and go to the gift shop.
They have the adult sized Flick helmets for $34.99.

Just don't fall for any triple dog dares!

Sam

 

[mattface]

I think they were probably popular post WWI amongst pilots and motorcyclists. Fur lined ones have been around in the winter as long as I can remember, but have not really been a particularly popular style. The Mad Bomber brand hats have brought a small resurgence in popularity in the past decade or so. http://madbomber.com/

 

[Edward]

I've seen a lot of those around year, though they always seemed to me to be more a Western fashion adaptation of the Ushanka rather than a flying helmet as such. Or maybe a hybrid of both?
I have a couple of Ushankas, all the way from Russia. Lovely hats. I'm still not sure I don't look like an eedjit in them, but you can't beat them for the cold!

 

[dhermann1]

I got my nephew, a grad student at Syracuse right now, a nice Chester Jeffries leather flight helmet a couple of years ago, and he loves it. Very useful for those bitter upstate NY winters.

 

[Edward]

I can imagine! I remember buying a German (probably 60s or 70s era) cotton and synthetic 'cap comforter' for wearing in NYC back in Feb 04, and being incredibly glad of it when I got there!

(The weird thing was seeing doormen and the likes in Ski Masks.... Well, coming from a Northern Irealnd upbringing, where they have rather a different connotation.... lol ).

 

[johnnycanuck]

My Father used to wear one as a child back in Scotland. You could buy old surplus stuff cheep in most shops after the war. It was a old pilots helmet and kept him warm in winter. He said if you unsnapped the ear flaps and ran really fast it would make a “whop whop” noise like a helicopter.

My two cents worth anyway.

Johnny

 

[scottyrocks]

I have an unlined one. I stopped wearing it as much as I was because when I talk loudly, never mind shout, the sound is amplified in my ears to the point of discomfort.

 

[Fletch]

You might want to look into the Eastman B-5. It has earcups built in. You could stuff them with your favorite sound absorbing medium. Or install speakers and partake of some swingin' tunes.

 

[Mangrove]

The following (section of a] photograph is from Finnish "HOK" magazine 1/1938. The helmets were advertised as suitable for skiing.

 

[Edward]

You might want to look into the Eastman B-5. It has earcups built in. You could stuff them with your favorite sound absorbing medium. Or install speakers and partake of some swingin' tunes.

Kinda fancy one of those myself, the only problem is when it gets that cold, I'm already in a B3 or an Irvin, so it would look a bit....eh... more fancy dress than I'd be comfortable with.

 

[LoveMyHats2]

As nasty as it gets here in Michigan, and as I either have to snow plow or use a blade to clear driveways, I am for sure to buy one of these to keep my head warm! Thanks for posting this!

 

[Mangrove]

The following (section of a] photograph is from Finnish "HOK" magazine 1/1938. The helmets were advertised as suitable for skiing.

Exactly same looking hats were also sold by Kuusinen O.Y. on their 1938 Winter Catalog. It was either available as white poplin or glasee (white lambskin).