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Protective clothing

Explore items of clothing worn for workplace safety in a vast array of occupations, from firefighter and oil rig worker to ironmonger and Royal Navy personnel.

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Metropolitan police helmet, MkV, ABS plastic based, sectioned

Pair of disposable ear plugs (E.A.R. type)

Royal Air Force anti-glare spectacles

Safety spectacles with pivoting side shields

1984

Anti-louse belt

Pharmaceutical Worker's Suit.

1982

Protective spectacles, c 1981.

1980-1982

SeaSafe brand 'Mariner' Life Jacket 150

1990-1999

Pair of "Comfit" moulded plastic ear plugs

1945-1982

Beanie hat incorporating d3o shear-thickening polymer

2006

Protective trousers, for coke oven operative's protective suit

1981

Non slip safety boots

2006

First closed diving helmet and breastplate

1839

Twin eyeglass deep sea diving helmet by Charles Edwin Heinke

1844-1850

Reflective waistcoat

Microshield smock

1984

'Contour d3o' goalkeeping gloves

2006

Pair of "Comfit" moulded plastic ear plugs

1945-1982

Diving/Smoke helmet

1820-1829

Equipment used on the 1933 Everest expedition by Sir Jack Longland

1930-1933

Pair of silk inner gloves used on the 1933 Everest expedition

1930-1933
Powermask MKIII Belt-mounted powered respirator, with suit, battery charger, pair of gloves and suit case marked 'Spartan', by Siebe Gorman and Company Limited, British, 1978-1981

Powermask MKIII Belt-mounted powered respirator

1978-1981
Anti-flash gas welder's suit (overall) with hood, gloves and boots (suit type Bristol HS 17). Designed for use by British Gas workmen inspecting high pressure natural gas pipes. Made of unlined Heatshield cloth the suit will give protection up to 20 seconds against flames at 850°C before the heat penetrates to the skin. Heatshield is light and flexible so looks like a standard overall. The anti-flash hood is designed to fit around breathing apparatus with an integral heavy duty industrial helmet and is fitted with a wide vision polycarbonate visor. The overall and gauntlet mittens are made of modacrylic beta-glass fibre yarn mixture cloth. The boots are made of chrome hide leather with nitrile rubber sole and steel toe cap.

Anti-flash gas welder's suit (overall) with hood

1981
Wet suit, comprising: jacket, long johns, hood, 'Vidi' mask, schnorkel, pair of fins and bag, and pair of wet suit socks, by Typhoon International Limited, Redcar, Cleveland, England, 1981

Wet suit: jacket, long johns, hood, mask, schnorkel, fins and bag, and socks

1981
Thermal climbing jacket in Peak fiber pile surface fabric

Thermal climbing jacket

"Barrier" non-woven disposable hospital theatre surgical gown (large), Johnson and Johnson Ltd.

"Barrier" Non-Woven Disposable Hospital Theatre Surgical Gown (large)

"Barrier" non-woven disposable hospital theatre dress (large size), Johnson and Johnson Ltd.

"Barrier" non-woven disposable hospital theatre dress (large size)

Used shot blaster's kit comprising: canvas jacket and trousers, pair of gauntlets, pair of boots and helmet

Shot blaster's canvas protective wear, jacket and trousers, pair of gauntlets, pair of boots and helmet

1976-1981
Pair of cricket bowler's boots (Bob Willis style)

Pair of cricket bowler's boots

1981
Non-woven disposable tie on surgical mask, Johnson and Johnson Ltd.

Non-woven disposable tie on surgical mask

"Annapurna" climbing jacket and overtrousers

"Annapurna" climbing jacket and overtrousers

Non-woven disposable cap for hospital nurses use, Johnson and Johnson Ltd.

Non-Woven Disposable Cap for Hospital Nurses Use

Non-woven disposable hood for hospital use, balaclava type, Johnson and Johnson Ltd.

Non-Woven Disposable Hood for Hospital Use

Non-woven disposable hoods for hospital use (one large, one small), Johnson and Johnson Ltd.

Non-woven disposable hoods for hospital use

Child's protective helmet respirator (1939) in original cardboard container

Child's protective helmet respirator (1939) in original cardboard container

1939
Positive Pressure powered respirator MK5 (to BS 4558 and 4771) Serial No.500658, with battery powered motor fan unit on a waistbelt, by Martindale Protection Limited, Neasden, London, England, 1975-1981

Positive Pressure powered respirator MK5 (to BS 4558 and 4771) Serial No.500658

1975-1981
Goggles, pear shaped, unsplinterable, tinted glass.

Goggles, Pear shaped, Unsplinterable, Tinted glass

Dog training suit comprising coat and trousers, (RAF, c1956)

Dog training suit comprising coat and trousers

1956
Cyclist's cape and leggings in yellow PVC coated cotton (made for Halfords shops), purchased by donor c1953

Cyclist's cape and leggings in yellow PVC coated cotton (made for Halfords shops)

circa 1953
Magazine trousers (RAF, c1939)

Magazine trousers (RAF, c1939)

Glove, stencilling

Glove, stencilling

One pair Swiss pattern snowshoes as used by armed services in 1950s

Swiss pattern snowshoes as used by armed services

1950-1959
One pair Canadian pattern snowshoes, as used by armed services in 1950s.

Canadian Pattern Snowshoes as Used by Armed Services

1950-1959
Cricket bowling machine, c. 1900

Cricket bowling machine, c. 1900

circa 1900
Two weight belts - reinforced rubber. (One attached to dummy figure 1963-63 and one to dummy figure 1963-65)

Two weight belts for diving

1950-1966
Two Snorkel Tubes - single bend. (One attached to dummy figure 1963-63 and one to dummy figure 1963-65)

Two Snorkel tubes

1950-1966
Combination overalls for extreme cold weather for ground crew, RAF, c1954)

Combination overalls for extreme cold weather for ground crew

Pair of gloves and a single right-hand glove, Winter - Monkey Grip vinyl coated foam insulated, by Edmont Europe, Belgium, 1986

Pair of gloves, Winter - Monkey Grip vinyl coated foam insulated

1986
Organic vapour 1/2 mask respirator fitted with prefilter for droplets or particles along with separate prefilter unit from respirator.

Organic vapour half mask respirator

circa 1986
Paper Plus wrapover boiler suit with separate hood (RAF, c1965)

Paper Plus wrapover boiler suit with separate hood