British Tin Hats of WWII

It was not until February 1916 that the first steel helmets were issued to the British troops in the 1st World War, but in WWII they were an essential part not only of the soldier’s equipment but that of the police, the A.F.S. and A.R.P. workers. The steel helmet in 1939 had been evolved by the patient research of scientists and could be considered to have been perfected in the factory where these photos were taken. About 300 men were employed in this factory where 50,000 helmets a week were produced.

The raw material of steel helmets is seen below (left). Blanks from which they are stamped out are being piled on a truck which carries them to the press room.

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When the blank had been pressed into shape the next process was fitting the stainless steel rim. It was welded in position and then clinched home by the impressively powerful machine seen above (Right).

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(Above) A helmet has just been stamped out of a blank and the operator holds in his hand the surplus metal. When once the helmet had taken its final shape it was painted inside and outside before the linings were put in. (Below) A man is spraying on the Paint. He wore a mask over his mouth and nose to guard against inhaling particles of paint, while his hair was protected from the spray by bandages. After being painted, the helmets were passed on a conveyer through drying furnaces.

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