Seeking information about 1950s Pirates batting helmet

[Chris Counts]

Here's a Pirates batting helmet from my collection, and I'm wondering if there's any way to verify it's vintage? These were remade a few years ago (along with the Dodgers), but the inside of the remake looks very different than this. I realize it's possible that someone has repurposed an old helmet to create this, but it did come from an old collection with other great vintage material, so it's also possible it's legitimate. Any help is very much appreciated. Thanks, Chris

[icollectDCsports]

Interesting. I know that the fiberglass helmets underneath the black flocking for many of these Pirates gamers are green but that doesn’t mean that they all were. That flocking and logo do look pristine and unused, however.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by Chris Counts

Here's a Pirates batting helmet from my collection, and I'm wondering if there's any way to verify it's vintage? These were remade a few years ago (along with the Dodgers), but the inside of the remake looks very different than this. I realize it's possible that someone has repurposed an old helmet to create this, but it did come from an old collection with other great vintage material, so it's also possible it's legitimate. Any help is very much appreciated. Thanks, Chris

Tough to tell from the pics, what’s going on there…

As for the inner shell, it’s a perfect early ‘60s example. The labeling, style of padding and fiiberglass lines are all indicative of the 1961-65 period. I have Angels and Tigers examples that match it to a tee.

The outer shell is more of a conundrum. Normally the outer fiberglass surface would look similar to what you see on the inside (with the visible lines). Yours appears to be repainted or re-surfaced. I know Manny Sanguillen used one that was “flocked” and similar to what you have. Wish I could see it clearer on my cell, but I lean towards thinking yours had its exterior restored. I know they used these helmets until they cracked, and many were repainted by the teams back in the day. Could be the case here.

But the “P” especially looks newer (and thicker) than the normal “P” they utilized at the time. The wear on the “P” does not appear commensurate with the helmet’s age, or the remainder of the helmet.

So my guess is it’s an original example that was restored at some point in time. Hope that’s helpful, and perhaps Mike K. can shed some additional light.

[icollectDCsports]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Tough to tell from the pics, what’s going on there…

As for the inner shell, it’s a perfect early ‘60s example. The labeling, style of padding and fiiberglass lines are all indicative of the 1961-65 period. I have Angels and Tigers examples that match it to a tee.

The outer shell is more of a conundrum. Normally the outer fiberglass surface would look similar to what you see on the inside (with the visible lines). Yours appears to be repainted or re-surfaced. I know Manny Sanguillen used one that was “flocked” and similar to what you have. Wish I could see it clearer on my cell, but I lean towards thinking yours had its exterior restored. The “P” especially looks newer (and thicker) than the normal “P” they utilized at the time. The wear on the “P” does not appear commensurate with the helmet’s age, or the remainder of the helmet.

So my guess is it’s an original example that was restored at some point in time. Hope that’s helpful!

Initially I’d thought the Pirates stopped wearing flocked helmets in the late ‘50s, but photos indicate they continued into the early ‘60s and from what I can see the fiberglass helmets underneath are indeed the color of Chris’s helmet.

[perezfan]

Agree!

[Chris Counts]

Thanks for the feedback! Your observations make sense Mark. The difference in wear between the inner liner and the "P" is what troubles me the most. It sounds like I have a Frankenhelmet — part new and part old. Kind of like my surgically repaired knee.