J04454 (IJA) SUMMER TANKER'S HELMET. A standard, dome-shaped, summer pattern tank crew helmet, as used from the early 1930s until the end of the war, constructed from what appears to be layers of pressed paper beneath an integral, water-resistant canvas cover. The khaki-colored covering is comprised of six machine sewn pieces, meeting at the 5/8" diameter, reinforced ventilation opening to the apex of the crown, and sewn under a 3/4" wide horizontal band sewn just beneath the mid-point of the helmet. A pentagonal patch, in the same material as the covering, has been applied to the front of this horizontal band, upon which is sewn a brown leather five-pointed star. A 1 1/2" wide band is beneath the 3/4" wide one, sewn along the brim of the helmet. Over each ear are half-moon shaped openings, with vertical openings beneath each of them, to either side of which are three metal grommets. Olive drab-colored laces pass through these six grommets over each ear. Descending from either side of these openings are "Y"-shaped brown leather flaps, that to the right having a 5/8" x 7 1/2" strap proceeding from its base, while that to the left has a short tab with dual alloy rings fed through it. The strap would pass through the rings and back upon them, cinching the flaps together underneath the chin. The rings were originally nickel-silver plated, most of which has worn away. The interior of the leather flaps are lined in light khaki-colored cotton. The interior of the helmet itself has loosely-woven muslin covering the crown and the front and back, but sewn over the outline of the half-moon openings. Ink stamps may be seen to the muslin over the left opening, which include an obscured manufacturer’s mark within a cartouche, a horizontal rectangle with indiscernible characters, and a vertical rectangle which appears to include a size "medium" indication. Small leather flaps cover the interior of the laced openings over each ear. Sections of black oilcloth are sewn, in such a way that they are held away from the edge of the helmet, to both the front and back. From underneath each of these proceed two sections of brown leather, each of which separate into two "fingers," with the formed tunnel loops sewn to the ends of these eight fingers joined by an adjustable draw string. Both the leather and oilcloth components to the interior are still supple and exhibit only very light soiling. Light chafe wear and soiling may be seen to the flaps that descend over each ear. The canvas covering is lightly age and usage soiled. An excellent, complete example.

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