Custodian Helmet c.1983

Avon & Somerset Constabulary helmet c.1983-90

From about 1983 the custodian helmets adopted a slightly different interior. The plastic ABS shell was now black instead of dark green and the cork insert was changed to white foam (see below). The sweatband was made from black foam. About the same time the Avon & Somerset helmet plate changed from the generic "ER" centre to the Wyvern 'dragon' and shield. The helmet plate remains plastic. The other noteworthy difference with this version is that the chin strap is plastic. Perhaps surprisingly, it was changed to leather on the later helmets. Usually things go the other way round to save money, so that better materials such as leather are replaced with plastic.

The front stud which holds the metal helmet band in place (just below the badge) appears silver. These were  black painted steel and no longer brass. The black paint would sometimes scratch off leaving the silver appearance.

These helmets with the original helmet plate are now very rare since the helmet plate was soon superseded by the colour version still in use today. However, it's still possible to find examples with white foam inserts fitted with the older plastic ER helmet plate. The plastic helmet plates would have been removed as the new helmet plates were issued. The only original versions remaining would probably be from Police Officers who retired when the plastic plate was still in use and they managed to retain their helmet on leaving. 

Here's an example of an Avon & Somerset helmet liner from this period. The original black foam has fallen away leaving what looks like black 'netting' or see-through fabric. The foam has still disintegrated despite the helmet appearing to be hardly used or even un-issued.

Example 1.

 

This next photograph below shows the interior of a similar helmet from the same period. Again, the foam from the sweatband is no longer present leaving just the nylon netting. The foam on these early versions would gradually crumble away from the netting when exposed to moisture and heat. The type of padding used was later replaced with a more durable foam/fabric. 

Example 2.

The makers label is just visible on the right side (Compton Webb Headress Ltd).

White foam 'insert' with makers label

 

Compton Webb makers label c. 1985

Here are some more photographs of another helmet from the same period.

Example 3. 

The white foam 'insert' can be seen behind the webbing straps

The foam sweatband has crumbled away leaving only the backing material which now appears as nylon 'netting'. Remnants of this can be seen as black speckles on the white foam insert. Despite this, the helmet is in excellent overall used condition.

Example 4. A good example of an Avon & Somerset helmet from this period. The black numbers stamped onto the white harness indicate this is a small size 56cm. Other markings could indicate the year of 1983, which would be consistent with the period this helmet was issued. I'm confident that this example has the orginal helmet plate as fitted when issued/used.  

By the late 1980's the white foam insert was changed to black as seen in this Port of Bristol example below. Port of Bristol police were and probably still are, supplied with the same helmets used by Avon & Somerset Police. 

Port of Bristol helmet c. late 1980's/early 1990's