2018.002.020 [Helmet, Military]

This is a Brodie-type steel helmet used by the United States armed forces during the First World War. It consists of a dome surrounded at the base by a wide brim in a circular shape. It is a single piece of folded steel. There is considerable patina on the piece, as is to be expected of a steel artifact of its age and provenance. The crest of the dome is pierced by several small screws which are designed to keep the internal leather lining attached to the steel body of the helmet. The interior of the helmet retains its original leather and cloth lining, as well as its net cushioning. The cloth straps that hold the lining in place is adorned at the interior crest of the dome by an imprinted star. At the rim of the helmet, the designation "ZF51" is engraved into the metal. There is considerable patina underneath the interior lining of the helmet. This type of helmet was originally patented in 1915 by John Leopold Brodie in London and was used extensively in the British armed forces during the First World War. It was adapted for use by the United States Expeditionary Force as the M1917 Helmet. The US initially purchased over 400,000 of these helmets from Britain for use in the war and eventually began to produce modified versions of it as the war progressed. In service until late 1940, the Brodie-type helmet was a staple of many countries' armed forces during the first half of the twentieth century. This content can be used with the following resources: SS.4.25: Technological Change This content can be used to educate students on the advancements made to military protective equipment during the First World War and how those changes impacted the lives of Iowan servicemen who fought in the conflict. For any use other than instructional resources, please check with the organization that owns this item for any copyright restrictions.