Leather Football Helmet

[pgellis]

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[CarltonHendricks]

Originally Posted by pgellis

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Phil, Looking at that helmet in your case I thought it was a Princeton style but now that you post those large photos it isn't after all...It's great though....and in incredible condition with super clean padding inside....I don't recall ever seeing one like it...

Below is a good example of a Princeton style helmet...I don't know exactly for sure why it's called a Princeton but I think they were advertised as such in catalogs...I think Spalding catalogs. This one is a Reach. Generally I think helmets made by Spalding are the most sought after....and I think that's generally true with all antique sports equipment, baseball, football, etc.

Some of the other football helmet makers would be, Victor, Wright and Ditson, then I think Wright and Ditson and Victor merged into "Victor Wright and Ditson"...then you've got Reach, Draper Maynard (D&M), Lowell and Campbell, Goldsmith, Thomas Wilson, Remington...then later in the 40's I think there was, McGregor, Rawlings, Wilson, etc etc....I'm just giving a quick overview of ones I recall off the top my head but there are a lot of collectors that collect primarily equipment who would know them all...way better than me. Equipment is just one of the things I collect.



http://www.sportsantiques.com/portlandpg6.htm
There was another lesser known helmet maker named Schmelzer out of I think Kansas City....I once scored a killer dog ear by them on my way back from the Portland Expo antiques show in Portland Oregon which you can read about in the link above...gave a whopping $29.00 for it, and the way I came upon it is memorable...I also give the Schmelzer company history in the story...

[vintagesportflips]

The term Princeton style helmet in my opinion is in reference to the trianglular shaped leather attachments from the top of the helmet to the sides. The most common (abeit still very rare) is the four attachment style. I believe one of the auction houses had an 8 attachment Princeton style helmet that sold earlier this year. That was the first of those I had seen, other than the one shown in John Gennantonio/Ed Turner/Dan Hauser's book.
The helmet Phil showed has a very similar look in design to Princeton helmets, without having those tab like attachments. If I had it, I would call it a flattop helmet, with a Princeton style look. Regardless of the nomenclature, its a beautiful helmet.
I love that Schmelzer helmet Carlton - an incredible antique shop find to be sure.

[vintagesportflips]

Here are the 2 Princeton style helmets I've had in the past that were definitely football helmets. I did also have a pair of beautiful Princeton style helmets, that had custom factory applied visors applied to the forehead. These were most likely made for Lacrosse, but they were identical to football helmets in every way except for those visors.

The descriptions of these Princeton helmets can be seen at antiquesports.co

[foamspoon]

Does anyone collect lacrosse stuff?

[CarltonHendricks]

Keith, Very good elaboration on the "Princeton"....I never even thought about those nuances....I have a Princeton but it's sort of on loan at the moment...I think it has four spokes/tabs that attach to the main body...

Yeah that Schmelzer....then later a collector read the story, knew what I paid and had to have it...after turning down a couple offers I acquiesced...The buyer coaxed me by telling me as much I'd be able to brag about the profit margin...I leaned back with my feet up and hands behind my head after that one...

Bryan, I don't think I've ever met a Lacrosse collector....I have a very few lacrosse items....a few old sticks....a small early American lacrosse trophy...and a very rare lacrosse board game (top only)....I would buy something lacrosse if it were a killer display piece....like an antique statue or figural trophy...Oh yeah that's right I do have a statue of a lacrosse player missing the top of the stick.

One time I was at a book show in San Francisco...there were a lot of dealers from around the country...and I spotted a lacrosse broadside to die for....phenomanal, classic broadisde about late 19th century. I can't remember who the teams were but as I recall it was American...Dealer said he got it there at the show and didn't want to sell it. This was maybe 15 years ago and had I known what I know now...I'd have hurled money at the guy till he caved...never seen anything like it since...

[vintagesportflips]

I have dealt with one lacrosse collector in the past - I'm not sure how many are out there, but I am sure they exist. Lacrosse seems to be more popular today than it was 20 years ago or so, so perhaps down the road it will be more collected. I only have 2 lacrosse items in my collection, and only because they are Carlisle Indians school items. The first is a 1910 Carlisle Lacrosse team cabinet photo - the 2nd is a Carlisle Varsity Award letter given to a lacrosse player, and signed by Pop Warner. Both are on the Carlisle section of my Collectors showcase page on antiquesports.co, but here are a couple of photos.