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TheZuckerman helmet, officially designated theCivilian Protective Helmet,[1] was a helmet designed for use by civil defence organisations and the general public in theUnited Kingdom duringWorld War II. It was researched and designed bySolly Zuckerman,Derman Christopherson andHugh Cairns[2] and manufactured between 1940 and 1942.
Zuckerman and Cairns first started looking into a design for a helmet to aid civil defence in mid-1940. Their aim was to provide a helmet that could deal with impact from falling and flying masonry and provide more coverage for the head and the neck areas.
After theWar Office accepted their design, theCivilian Protective Helmet went into circulation in December 1940 and was made until 1942, the vast majority being dated 1941.
Helmets were made from pressedmild steel ormanganese steel (known for its impact resistance) in two sizes only and sometimes marked with either M (medium) or L (large) on the inside of the brim. The design of the high dome was to allow the helmet to withstand impact and still protect the wearer. Many have two single holes opposite each other on the brim. The marking details the amount of resistance the helmet offered to ballistic impact (that being the lowest and therefore not for use as a frontline helmet). The helmet was available in a number of colours: white, black, grey and olive green.
A helmet liner made of leather and webbing was attached to the helmet with string, shoelace or leather thong that was threaded through 16 drilled slightly angled holes around the helmet to hold it in place. Small loops were incorporated on the helmet for attaching a chinstrap, but no official strap was issued though many used theMk II helmet chinstrap. Consequently, helmets can be found with numerous chin strap variations.
The helmet was manufactured by a number of companies such as theAustin Motor Co. andMorris Motors.
| Code | Maker | Location |
|---|---|---|
| A.M.C. | Austin Motor Company | Longbridge |
| BMB | Briggs Motor Bodies Ltd | Dagenham |
| E.C&CO | E Camelinat & Co Ltd | Birmingham |
| JSS | Joseph Sankey & Sons Ltd | Bilston |
| MMOR | Morris Motors | Cowley |
| PCH | Unknown | Unknown |
| PSC | Pressed Steel Company | Cowley |
| RO&CO | Rubery Owen Co. Ltd | Leeds |
| VM | Vauxhall Motors | Luton |
Zuckerman helmets were issued toCivil Defence personnel such as Fire Guards, Street Fire Parties and factory workers. They were also on sale to the general public for 5 shillings and sixpence (5s 6d). (equivalent to £19 in 2023[3]) When used by Fire Guards and Street Fire Party personnel, the helmets were marked accordingly withFG orSFP. Bands around the helmet (often in black) would denote seniority within the Fire Guard service.[4] The fire service declined to use the Zuckerman helmet since it preferred the Mk II helmet.