Needed: Football Helmet Expert

[boysblue]

Hi. I recently acquired a football helmet (Colts) and I am trying to determine whether or not it is game worn/used. Was hoping somebody on the forum might be a bit of an expert on such things and wouldn't mind offering me some of their expertise. Thanks.

[icollectDCsports]

Originally Posted by boysblue

Hi. I recently acquired a football helmet (Colts) and I am trying to determine whether or not it is game worn/used. Was hoping somebody on the forum might be a bit of an expert on such things and wouldn't mind offering me some of their expertise. Thanks.

Can you post photos?

[boysblue]

I am hopeful that it might be a Rohn Stark worn Baltimore Colts helmet from the early '80s.....

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[commishbob]

Colts' punter Rohn Stark wore #3 and used that style of facemask. Certainly looks legit. I have a Colts helmet that was used in practice by an unknown player circa 1981 and the white facemask has turned a bit darker although not as dark and the one you have. Not that it means much coming from a non-expert like me but if I was to vote I'd give it a thumbs up.

[x2drich2000]

I am definitely not an expert on helmets, but I would vote no to it being a game worn Stark helmet. There are a couple things that bother me with the helmet.

1) I could not locate any picture of Stark using a helmet with the "BIKE" insignia on the forehead. All the pictures I could locate that were clear show either "Riddell" or "COLTS" across the forehead.

2) The face mask is close but not exact. Your helmet has a double bar going horizontal across the front, the pics I looked at of Stark all have a single bar across the face.

3) It appears Stark used a chin strap with two attachment points below the ear hole on each side. This helmet only has a male stud for 1 attachment point below the ear hole on each side.

Here is an image identified as 1983 that shows all three of these issues.

[steve B]

Going on the idea that there's a missing number, and that the 8 87 is an expiration date, (Narrows it down a bit, if football helmets are like bicycle helmets they're supposed to be replaced after 3 years. ) I went looking for pictures using the pro football reference uniform number search. Interesting that there are so many 80's guys where you can't find a pic online... (Also true of cyclists, but that's more of a fringe sport especially back then)


I found a couple possibilities.

33 Curtis Dickey - Used Bike, but no pics show that facemask

43 Frank Middleton - Used Bike, and at least for a while, that facemask. The pics I found are all from angles where I can't see the chinstrap clearly.


There's way too many guys who played during the right years to say for sure, but Middleton looks promising.

[boysblue]

That is very interesting stuff. Thanks to the guys who took the time to post some information--it is much appreciated.