Improvements in Metal Helmets.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 1st June, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 10th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 14th Sept., 1895
Improvements in Metal Helmets.
I, ROBERT ELSDON, of The Highlands, Burnt Ash Hill, Lee, in the County
of Kent, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention relates to improvements in metal helmets such as those worn by
soldiers, firemen, and others, and which commonly consist of an outer body of
brass, steel, or other suitable metal with a pad or baud of leather or other more or
less soft and yielding material introduced at that part of the interior of the helmet
which is required to fit the head of the wearer. These helmets are necessarily
weighty, the thickness and strength of the metal being dependent upon the
conditions under which the helmet is to be worn and the force of the blows or
other strains which it is intended to resist.
According to my invention I manufacture the outer body of the helmet of
aluminium or aluminium alloy of about the same thickness as the brass or steel
ordinarily employed, or of any other suitable thickness, and inside the aluminium
outer body I provide a lining of cork, papier-mâché, hard felt or other suitable
light material. This lining is more or less closely fitted to the interior of the
outer metal body to which it may be attached if desired by suitable cement or
otherwise. The strength of the lining may sometimes be increased by the
introduction of steel or other bands radiating from the crown of the helmet or
otherwise suitably arranged.
Instead of aluminium I may sometimes employ steel, brass, or other metal, of a
less thickness than would be practicable in the absence of the abovementioned
lining, and for a lighter class of helmet I may employ a metal body, aluminium for
example, and cover the interior thereof with a lining of light material, and the
exterior with a thin cloth, silk, or other covering to give the desired colour.
Dated this 1st day of June 1895.
I, ROBERT ELSDON, of The Highlands, Burnt Ash Hill, Lee, in the County
of Kent, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in metal helmets such as those worn by
soldiers, firemen, and others, and which commonly consist of an outer body of brass,
or other suitable metal, with a pad or band of leather, or other more or less soft
and yielding material, introduced at that part of the interior of the helmet which
is required to fit the head of the wearer, such pad or band being attached to the
metal helmet at its lower or outer edge. These helmets are necessarily weighty,
Price 8d 1

page_text: the thickness and strength of the metal being dependent upon the conditions under
which the helmet is to be worn, and the force of the blows or other strains which
it is intended to resist.
According to my invention I manufacture the outer body of the helmet of
aluminium or aluminium alloy, of about the same thickness as the brass or other
metal ordinarily employed, or of any other suitable thickness, and inside the
aluminium outer body I provide a lining of suitable light material more or less
closely fitted to the interior of the outer metal body, to which it may be attached
if desired by suitable cement, or otherwise.
"
In constructing a metal military helmet, for example, in accordance with my
invention, I first cut and press or otherwise suitably shape the pieces of aluminium
to form the outer body, and having joined and held them in place by rivetting,
folding or otherwise, I securely cement or otherwise suitable attach to the interior
surface of the helmet body thus formed one or more layers of " gossamer"
preferably treated with glue, cement, or other solution, to render it stiff and hard
when dry or set. Or instead of "gossamer," canvas, papier-mâché, hard felt, or
cork, may be employed for the said lining. I prefer that the above described
lining of the helmet shall be closely and securely attached to the inner surface of
the metal, and for this purpose any suitable or well known means may be employed
in order to ensure continuous and even contact between the metal and the lining.
In constructing helmets which are required to have a cloth exterior surface, such
for example as police and volunteer helmets, I proceed as herein before described,
sand then cover the exterior surface of the metal body of the helmet with thin cloth,
silk, or other covering to impart the desired colour.
Pads or bands of leather, or other more or less soft and yielding material, may
be employed as in helmets at present in use.
Instead of aluminium I may sometimes employ steel, brass, or other metal of á
less thickness than would be practicable in the absence of the abovementioned
lining.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. The improved helmet consisting of an aluminium outer body and a
"gossamer or other suitable lining, substantially as described.
66
"
Second. The improved helmet consisting of a metallic outer body and a
gossamer" or other suitable lining, substantially as described.
Third. The improved helmet consisting of a body made of aluminium or other
suitable metal, a "gossamer or other suitable lining, and a cloth or other similar
outer cover, substantially as described.
Dated this 9th day of August 1895.
R. ELSDON,
Per W. H. Beck,
115 Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent: