Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Helmet, Military |
Caption |
WW I U. S. Army helmet |
Description |
U. S. Army helmet from World War I. Belonged to Arthur John Benjamin, Hutchinson, MN. He was stationed at Camp Pike, AK and served overseas in France. He was the son of Robert and Martha McBroom Benjamin; he married Adela Nemitz and was a partner in Nemitz Paint Company, Hutchinson, MN. The United States entered into World War I in April 1917. At this time the United States Army did not have a helmet for its troops. The adoption of a helmet by the French, British and German armies convinced the United States Army that a helmet was needed as a standard piece of equipment. In June 1917, the United States Army selected the standard British helmet design for its use. Production was begun on the M-1917 helmets in the fall of 1917. By the end of November 1917, large quantities of M-1917 helmets became available for the United States Army. The M-1917 helmet was very similar to the British Mk. I helmet. The helmet was basically an inverted bowl stamped out of a single piece of manganese alloy. It could withstand a .45 caliber pistol bullet traveling at 600 feet per second fired at a distance of 10 feet. A rim was spot welded to the edge of the steel bowl, An adjustable leather chin strap was riveted to the steel bowl and the helmet lining was attached to the strap. The lining was woven of cotton twine in meshes. This web, fitting tightly upon the wearer's head, evenly distributed the weight of the two-pound helmet, and in the same way distributed the force of any blow upon the helmet. |
Catalog Number |
2018-0096-018 |
Search Terms |
Helmets World War I Benjamin Family Soldiers |
Subjects |
Helmets World War I Soldiers |
People |
Benjamin, Arthur John |