Hi all
I have had an enquiry from the Bristol Old Vic theatre company wanting to borrow some helmets for a play which is partly about coalmining in Yorkshire in the period 1947 to 1988. The part where helmets are worn is set in 1947.
I believe the type of helmet in use then is most likely the "compressed cardboard" or, perhaps more correctly, "compressed pith" type as in
http://www.pznow.co.uk/attractions/penlee.html
in the section titled “Social Life and Culture” (there are of course lots of other pics of these on the www)!
The original enquiry from the theatre company was asking to borrow aluminium helmets, I assume as in
http://www.angloanddutch.co.uk/miners-helmet-30-p.asp
This webpage says the helmet was made in America and I am not aware of these being used in the UK, but of course I could be wrong.
So queries to you people are:
Were aluminium helmets ever used in the UK coalmining industry? If so what period?
When were the compressed pith helmets most commonly in use?
What was used before this type and the period of use?
For my own interest, as it is later than when the play is set, when did coalminers in the UK start using Texolex helmets?
For anyone interested in seeing the play, details are on
http://www.oldvic.ac.uk/salt-of-the-earth.html
and the performances are from 15 to 25 June. There is a link to book tickets on the above webpage.
Cheers
Roger
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