Football helmet collectors?

[Fballguy]

Originally Posted by Showdawg

Crude facemask were used in the 40s and early 50s...here are a couple examples....

Would love to see these pictures. Am I the only one who can't?

[Fballguy]

I got into helmets for a while...but they take up a lot of space so I cooled on them. Had game used Bengals and Cardinals helmets from the early 70's. Sold them a few years ago. I love stuff the 1960's through the early 70's. Still have a few old helmets I've found at flea markets and estate sales over the years. And a modern Riddell Rams helmet. Would love to see more pictures.

Great Generals pennant by the way.

[Showdawg]

1952 was the end of the white Browns helmet and 1st year of the permanent orange helmet. 1952 helmet had the leather earpads

[Showdawg]

1953 Browns helmet was the same as 1952 helmet, except the earpads were removed

[Showdawg]

On November 15, 1953, in a game against the San Francisco 49ers, an opponent’s elbow struck Cleveland Browns quarterback Otto Graham in the face. Graham was a veteran player who knew through years in the league that this hit would take him out of the game. Graham was not wearing a protective mask and the blow resulted in a deep gash running down his cheek bone. It was not the first hit that took Graham out of a game, but he decided that it would be the last. Graham went to the locker room where a trainer stitched the cut, and he later returned to the game wearing a protective mask.