Unfortunately it’s not possible to produce a comprehensive list of which makers supplied which Police Forces and when. Contracts with helmet makers to supply the Police are continually reviewed and changed over time. Some company trade names no longer exist. The principal makers are listed below.
Christys’ & Co have been manufacturing hats in England since 1773. They have long supplied both the military and police. They supplied the London Metropolitan Police with the original 'stovepipe' top hat. In 1863 they supplied the new Custodian Police helmet which was based on the British Army Home Service Helmet. Christy & Co and CW Headdress merged together in 1996, when Coates Viyella sold CW Headdress. They have operated from the same location in Witney since 2001.
CW Headdress (formerly Compton Webb Headdress) was founded in 1899 and has always supplied military, police and corporate headwear. Originally known as J. Compton Sons & Webb, it began trading in the 1930s. The company became known as Compton Sons & Webb after the Second World War. It continued using the name J Compton Sons & Webb until 1978, when it was bought out. CW Headdress has operated from its factory and headquarters in Witney, Oxfordshire.
These labels were used on helmets circa 1979-1985
Hobson and Sons Ltd began in 1850 and supplied both military and police with headgear over many years. In recent years Hobson's have supplied London Met, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Hertfordshire, Cleveland, Humberside, Cheshire, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Police Forces. More recently they have supplied Hertfordshire Constabulary with a modern version of the Custodian helmet which uses a polystyrene type of liner similar to those used for cycle helmets. These helmets do not use the traditional wool covering but have a ‘velour’ type texture. The Hobson Group now owns the uniform maker Turner Virr which has an online catalogue for private purchase under the name of Uniforium.
These next two photographs were taken at Tooley Street, London. Hobsons had a workshop there at the time these photographs were taken.
Columbus Precision Mouldings (formally Columbus Plastics Ltd)
Columbus Precision Mouldings Ltd of Cheltenham primarily make packaging products from polystyrene. They have supplied helmets/liners for South Yorkshire and Humberside Police. These are also almost identical in design to recent helmets supplied to Hertfordshire Constabulary by Hobsons. They have a distinctive ‘velour’ type texture to the outside as already mentioned. See more about this under the 'Helmet design' section.
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| Humberside helmet made in 2002 |
Helmets Ltd, Wheathampstead (also using the brand name of Cromwell Helmets)
Established in 1924 making tropical pith helmets. They also made some of the straw helmets which were produced for the Police in the 1930s – probably those issued to officers in Luton. In the 1980s they produced helmets for the police, fire service and fighter pilots. They are now known as Helmet Integrated Systems Ltd and produce the Argus ‘riot’ helmet for the police amongst other products for the emergency services.
Everitt W. Vero & Co. Ltd
Created in 1851, Vero & Everitt had a long history of making felt hats based in Atherstone, Warwickshire. As well as felt hats they made tropical pith helmets and during WW2 produced liners for British issue steel helmets. They also produced some of the early motorcycle crash helmets. By 1969 they had adopted the ‘Everoak’ brand name for their motorcycle helmets. These were supplied to the Police. At some point they also produced and supplied both cork and felt Police helmets. By the 1970s, Vero & Everitt were one of only three hat makers remaining in the town. In the 1980s they were taken over by Wilson & Stafford. Vero & Everitt went into administration in 1990 and liquidation in 1994. Wilson & Stafford closed their factory in 1999.
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| Everitt W. Vero & Co. Ltd |
Police helmet maker's marks
On older cork helmets the makers details can usually be found stamped on the leather sweatband. In some cases this may have worn away or no makers details were given. Post-cork ABS helmets had makers stickers on the inside of the cork/foam liner insert. Current helmets tend to have a cloth label sewn into the sweatband. Below are a selection of maker's marks typically found on Police helmets old and new.
These next labels can be seen inside current issue London Metropolitan Police helmets. The larger blue and white label is usually removed prior to disposal. The black label gives the size in centimeters. The white label with black text instructs anyone finding the helmet to return it to their nearest Police station.
Thank you for the very interesting information about the helmet makers! Great information because in Germany I don`t find these details. Best Wishes, Achim Hagelauer!
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