The Fire Helmet Thread

Here is my helmet. Brand spankin new and hasn't seen any action other than the simple chimney fire or MVA.


Cairns N5A with the Streamlight Vantage on it.


The other helmet is the department issued Carins 880 (?) I think. I dont have it anymore, bought my leather and gave that one back.

helmet.jpg

helmet rear.jpg

old helmet.jpg
 
*Bump* Come on guys and gals, let's see more lids! I know there are more out there!


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Decided to alternate dual color tets. I like it a lot better.
 
I'm not a firefighter, but I've been collecting Cairns helmets for a few years. Should I post some of what I have in my collection?
 
Out-of-Service Safeco (1994 era), purchased used/surplus from my department. This one sits on top of my bookcase.


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It was my first restoration; a little bumpy on the very front, but not too noticeable.


It was a fun little project. I want to do more; maybe even get brave enough to try a leather after a few more "tupperwares."
 
I picked up my new helmet yesterday. I bought myself a Phenix TL2 Leather. It is such a comfortable and lightweight helmet. The shield is a Paul Conway that I've had for a few years.


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36TruckK said:
A guy at work traded me this helmet for an archery target I had...n5a with impact cap and no ratchet...this will be my Chief helmet when I make it!

It has my old Lieutenant device on it for now.
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I don't know what I love more...the older helmet, or the black nomex with lime/yellow reflexite. :eek:
 
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blue skull/flame tets


streamlight led vantage


ems shears
 
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I'm not a firefighter (I was involved with volunteer EMS for 20+ yrs), but I've been collecting leather Cairns helmets for a few years. I became very interested in them when I was a kid...I had a neighbor who was like an uncle who was FDNY, and I was always fascinated with his helmet. Anyway, here's one of the helmets in my collection, from Pelham, NH. There are no mfg tags in it, so I don't know when it was made. It's a Cairns pre-impact cap helmet, and I'm guessing it's from the 1960's.

PelhamFD Cairns.jpg
 
36TruckK said:
Pelham NH, sister city of Pelham, NY in Westchester County...spent many a shift in that firehouse.

Post a pic of the finial and I can date it for you.
Click to expand...

Here's the photo of the finial...it looks newer than the helmet itself...maybe it was replaced? Also, if it helps date it, the round Cairns tag inside the helmet is actual metal, not foil. Thanks for the help!

PelhamFD Cairns Finial.jpg
 
Here are a few more of my helmets, in no particular order, they are:


-N5A from the West Newton, PA FD Ass't Chief.


-5A(?) (no impact cap) from Malden, MA Rescue 2


-5A NOS (no impact cap), mfg 2/84


-5A from Brookline, MA FD Eng 5. This helmet was mfg in the early 1980s (no impact cap), and is almost brand new - it was issued to a firefighter that preferred his 1010, so it was never used.


-N5A from Cambridge, MA FD Engine 9, mfg 3/89.


-N5A from Cambridge, MA FD Ladder 3, mfg 9/95.

FDWN Ass't Chief Cairns.jpg

Malden Rescue 2.jpg

NOS Cairns.jpg

Brookline FD Engine 5 Cairns.jpg

Cambridge FD Engine 9 Cairns.jpg

Cambridge FD Ladder 3 Cairns.jpg
 
Tristar said:
Here's the photo of the finial...it looks newer than the helmet itself...maybe it was replaced? Also, if it helps date it, the round Cairns tag inside the helmet is actual metal, not foil. Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...

The screened holder and the foil tag came to be about 1975. Seems the all red embossed holder ran from about 1965-1975. The red and black embossed holder was from inception of the 6" until about 1965. New York to New Jersey was 1948. Hope that helps
 
Tristar said:
Here are a few more of my helmets, in no particular order, they are:
-N5A from the West Newton, PA FD Ass't Chief.


-5A(?) (no impact cap) from Malden, MA Rescue 2


-5A NOS (no impact cap), mfg 2/84


-5A from Brookline, MA FD Eng 5. This helmet was mfg in the early 1980s (no impact cap), and is almost brand new - it was issued to a firefighter that preferred his 1010, so it was never used.


-N5A from Cambridge, MA FD Engine 9, mfg 3/89.


-N5A from Cambridge, MA FD Ladder 3, mfg 9/95.
Click to expand...

LOVE the Cambridge Truck hat!
 
36TruckK said:
The screened holder and the foil tag came to be about 1975. Seems the all red embossed holder ran from about 1965-1975. The red and black embossed holder was from inception of the 6" until about 1965. New York to New Jersey was 1948. Hope that helps
Click to expand...

Wow! Quite a bit of knowledge! Thanks for the information...Unless the finial was replaced, it seems that the Pelham helmet is from 65-75. One of my other helmets that I purchased from an FDNY medic (that he purchased well used from someone one the job) has no labels, but it has the metal round tag held in place by a screw, and the finial is red and black embossed. In addition, the top of the finial isn't flat - it raises up towards the front of the helmet. However, it looks like there's still only enough room for a 6" shield. So, any guess on the age of that one?


What significance is there to the flat top finial vs. the one that raises up?


Why the tradition of painting the top of truck helmets red? I know Boston and Cambridge does it...Is it a Mass tradition only?


By the way - if you're FDNY, please tell me if L44/E92 (Jerome Ave, Bronx) still exists. A number of yrs ago, after helping at an MVA involving a member of that house, I spent the afternoon and evening there...quite the experience!


Thank you for all the help and information!
 
Got my first leather lid in. Paul Conway American Heritage. I love it. The eagle is missing one nut and bolt, though that will be easy enough to replace. Pics when I get to a computer. She will have to go from black to yellow.
 
Some very cool looking lids out there.


I know a lot of you are into the "salty" look, personally I like the look of a nice clean helmet. Color me different.


I currently have three.


(1) My (personal) N5A -- probie front on it, supposed to be coming off:


afarm6.staticflickr.com_5195_6997025810_4aab774ea4.png


afarm8.staticflickr.com_7186_7143112821_1a6fe489c2.png


afarm6.staticflickr.com_5449_7143112133_cfba048768.png


afarm8.staticflickr.com_7115_7143111373_ea5c87257d.png


I swapped the front holder with a carved one, and also swapped the default chin strap for a longer one w/ postman slide.


(2) EMS extrication (dept. issued):


afarm9.staticflickr.com_8142_7143115201_9131b61274.png


afarm9.staticflickr.com_8151_7143114375_2203160153.png


(3) Dept. issued fire helmet -- 1044 w/ Defender shield:


(not in service at the moment)


afarm9.staticflickr.com_8149_6997028246_c45ed39f9b.png
 
bwoodruff said:
Some very cool looking lids out there.

I know a lot of you are into the "salty" look, personally I like the look of a nice clean helmet. Color me different.


I currently have three.
Click to expand...

I can't stand having a dirty helmet, or gear for that matter. Both get washed thoroughly after a fire.
 
Bfat567 said:
Not me, I love popping my trunk and smelling structure fire! :yes:
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I love the smell, I just like my equipment to look top-notch and polished when I'm done. People may make fun of me, but I see no reason to go back out in the public eye with filthy equipment.


On the law enforcement side, my uniforms are to be pressed and starched; my boots polished and brass buffed to a shine, all to cast a sharp and professional appearance upon myself and my agency.


Fire apparatus is meticulously cleaned, waxed, and polished.


Why should my fire PPE be any different?


Just my .02; if others prefer their gear salty, that's their preference.


*steps off soapbox*
 
jprleedy4680 said:
I love the smell, I just like my equipment to look top-notch and polished when I'm done. People may make fun of me, but I see no reason to go back out in the public eye with filthy equipment.

On the law enforcement side, my uniforms are to be pressed and starched; my boots polished and brass buffed to a shine, all to cast a sharp and professional appearance upon myself and my agency.


Fire apparatus is meticulously cleaned, waxed, and polished.


Why should my fire PPE be any different?


Just my .02; if others prefer their gear salty, that's their preference.


*steps off soapbox*
Click to expand...

I agree completely!
 
jprleedy4680 said:
I love the smell, I just like my equipment to look top-notch and polished when I'm done. People may make fun of me, but I see no reason to go back out in the public eye with filthy equipment.

On the law enforcement side, my uniforms are to be pressed and starched; my boots polished and brass buffed to a shine, all to cast a sharp and professional appearance upon myself and my agency.


Fire apparatus is meticulously cleaned, waxed, and polished.


Why should my fire PPE be any different?


Just my .02; if others prefer their gear salty, that's their preference.


*steps off soapbox*
Click to expand...

I like my truck and uniform to be clean, PPE gets washed after a job, any stains that remain, fine, thats part of the character, but my helmet just gets wiped off, no washing, no waxing, no heavy cleaning. Its a signature piece, no two helmets are the same. All of the dings, dents, dirt, grime, soot, ect.. are all my own. I wont have chunks of drywall falling off, but i dont want it to be a clean shiny piece of equipment.
 
NCFD43 said:
I like my truck and uniform to be clean, PPE gets washed after a job, any stains that remain, fine, thats part of the character, but my helmet just gets wiped off, no washing, no waxing, no heavy cleaning. Its a signature piece, no two helmets are the same. All of the dings, dents, dirt, grime, soot, ect.. are all my own. I wont have chunks of drywall falling off, but i dont want it to be a clean shiny piece of equipment.
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That's how I am. I see no need to wear bunker gear packed full of carcinogens, but a helmet is a fireman's story teller that speaks volumes without saying a word.
 
I can understand that. It's when you have the guys that roll their helmets around in the muck just to make it look cool that I'm lost. If you dirty it, do it right!
 
Everything gets washed and cleaned after a fire. Don't want any nasties embedded in my gear. I also don't need grime or soot to show that I have been in a fire and that I know what I am doing. I let my actions speak for themselves. That's just me, I know some guys love the "dirty" look LOL :D
 
bwoodruff said:
Some very cool looking lids out there.

I know a lot of you are into the "salty" look, personally I like the look of a nice clean helmet. Color me different.


I currently have three.


(1) My (personal) N5A -- probie front on it, supposed to be coming off:


afarm6.staticflickr.com_5195_6997025810_4aab774ea4.png


afarm8.staticflickr.com_7186_7143112821_1a6fe489c2.png


afarm6.staticflickr.com_5449_7143112133_cfba048768.png


afarm8.staticflickr.com_7115_7143111373_ea5c87257d.png


I swapped the front holder with a carved one, and also swapped the default chin strap for a longer one w/ postman slide.
Click to expand...

:eek: Holy natural leather helmet! That's freakin gorgeous!
 
dusty said:
yeah it is, I wish I could have worn natural.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I talked to my Chief about it before purchasing. He was okay with it, so I went for it. He did warn me that it is going to take a lot of maintenance to keep it looking like that, once it sees some fire (we don't get a heck of a lot of them).

theolog said:
:eek: Holy natural leather helmet! That's freakin gorgeous!
Click to expand...

Thank you!
 
Just got off the phone with Paul Conway about replacing some labels. I was told "they come from the manufacturer with those, I'm not sure if we have them." Odd. I wonder if it's a different division, or if construction is contracted out.
 
dusty said:
Just got off the phone with Paul Conway about replacing some labels. I was told "they come from the manufacturer with those, I'm not sure if we have them." Odd. I wonder if it's a different division, or if construction is contracted out.
Click to expand...

I think Lion Apparel builds the helmets now; Conway makes the shields.
 
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