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MODEL 1889 US ARMY SUMMER HELMET – SOLDIER
WHITENED - VERY NICE SOLID SPECIMEN: One of the
classic pieces of Indian War headgear, this Model 1889
US Army Summer Helmet has survived in very nice solid
condition. Probably best known for their issue to the
soldiers in the Southwest during the Apache Wars, in
fact these helmets eventually saw wide distribution
throughout the army’s installations as a standard issue
relieving the soldiers of their heavy and hot woolen
headwear.
The Model 1880 US Army Summer Helmet was manufactured in
white, but was specifically criticized by officers for
the way in which the white color stood out when worn in
the field. When the helmet was redesigned and issued as
the Model 1889 Summer Helmet, the army responded to the
complaints by manufacturing it in khaki drab, foolishly
believing it is possible to make everyone happy. Viewed
in the context of the times, it worth noting that these
helmets were issued and worn by US soldiers during the
waning years of the Victorian Age, a period when British
soldiers were wearing bright white pith helmets in
tropical climates – accenting their uniforms in a way
familiar to all of us who have viewed the movie “ZULU”.
No doubt, US Army officers wanted their troops to
reflect the same level of style as that exhibited by the
British, and our officers had the ability, if not the
permission, to make it so. A simple application of a
white clay based coloring – probably similar to the
white dressing which was used years ago by the dragoons
to color their straps and accoutrements – rendered the
drab khaki helmets a bright white. Worn with the dark
blue blouse and the white cotton trousers already a
standard issue to the US soldiers, these whitened
helmets were a natural addition to complete a full head
to toe summer uniform at the frontier posts across the
southern United States and in tropical posts around the
world.
The body of this helmet still retains its full shape
with no damage or crushing to the crown or the brim, and
it retains the original vent top. As described above,
the outer cotton khaki covering has been whitened at one
time, though the majority of the whiting has worn away.
The covering is intact with no wear spots or tears, all
of the seams are intact and the material is overall
clean with minimal signs of age and storage. The inner
lining of crown is fully intact with no heavy stains or
wear. The green linen lining on the underside of the
brim is intact and very clean with none of the
substantial separation of the weave as is so often
seen. The leather sweat band is in very good condition
and all of the cork mounting discs are present, as are
the two brass chin strap hooks, the round paper size tag
and the round hat maker’s union tag. The inside of the
sweat band is ink stamped with a patent banner,
indicating the manufactured by the William Horstmann
Company.
This helmet retains a partial segment of the original
white patent leather chin strap, complete with the brass
adjustment buckle. These white leather chin straps were
not particularly robust and they did not survive well in
storage, often simply disintegrating to dust in such
places as Bannerman’s Island. In spite of its age, the
chin strap segment retains the white enameled finish to
the leather. The rarity of these white chin straps
cannot be overstated and they are simply not found on
the loose anymore. Finding this segment still with the
helmet is an added value, and should you be handy, there
is enough of the strap present that using it as a
pattern, you could make a copy to display with the
helmet.
This is a very nice example of one of the more unusual
pieces of US Army headwear from the Indian War and
Spanish American War periods, and it presents as it was
issued and worn by the frontier soldiers. (0345) $450
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