Fireman's leather helmet
- Made:
- 1830-1950
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Fireman's leather helmet, black, with plume, peak, neck shade, chin strap, and laced leather fittings inside helmet. '272188, 390 TR' inscribed inside the helmet.
The first standardised fireman’s helmet design in the UK was implemented by James Braidwood, Superintendent of the Edinburgh Fire Engine Establishment as he wanted his regiment to be uniformed. He took inspiration from the British Army’s cavalry, with a hardened leather shell and a raised peak on the top. By 1833, when Braidwood became the Superintendent of the London Fire Engine Establishment, his helmet was used by many fire brigades.
However, in 1866 the London Fire Engine Establishment was replaced by the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, and Braidwood’s successor decided to switch from leather to brass. Both leather and brass helmets were used, but brass was more popular until electricity became more commonplace - by the 1930s the brass helmet posed a huge risk of electric shock.
The London Fire Brigade once again led the way, pioneering a compressed cork and rubber helmet in 1937, but leather helmets remained a popular choice. Unfortunately, it is not known when this helmet was produced, or what brigade it was used by.
