Friday 16 October 2020

Novelty Police Helmet

 Unlike the previous post, this is not a genuine police helmet.


A novelty helmet for a fancy dress made from that compressed paper mache felt substance that make the basic structure for a lot of novelty hats.


The size is also smaller than the real thing making it look almost comedic on my head.



This one does have a badge though.



Saturday 10 October 2020

Police Custodians Helmet

 The police Custodians helmets were first worn 1863 replacing the Top Hat worn before


Originally made of cork and balanced on the head they provided none or limited protection. It wasn't until the 1970's that a proper padding, safety style harness, chin straps and hard shells were gradually added.


This helmet is the crest style of custodians helmet, purchased without its badge on the front. Helmets with badges are sold for much more money as the badges are collectable.



One other note the custodian helmet is the helmet worn by male police officers



The photo below is from a reenactment of the Battle of Orgreave, a violent confrontation between picketer and police during the miner's strike.

Saturday 3 October 2020

Too Small for Me

 This coonskin hat is too small for my head. 


If I pull really hard the brim will stretch on but within a few minutes it contracts and springs up leaving it precariously balanced.


Not my hat but part of our crew kit, never seen anyone wear it, so might be something to pass on to a worthy smaller head.

Saturday 26 September 2020

Hat Gone Wrong

 Spot the problem the corded knot around the base of crown is normally on the side occasional on the front.


At first, I thought I must have worn it wrong and so went back to check and the knot is at the back of the hat. Perhaps a manufacturing error or particular regional quirk, it still looks OK, hats certainly don't follow any hard and fast rules.


This hat is also a bit more Fedora than Tyrolean hat the brim is the same width all around and not rolled up at rear or tyrolean hats also have a bit lower slightly more rounded crown.







Saturday 12 September 2020

Aladdin Headgear

So this hat was described as Aladdin or Genie Theatrical Fancy Dress Hat, I think that's about right.


Although it also for me feels like it would suit Indian cultural headwear as well


Made by covering a foam sponge substructure in fabrics and beads, it feels light as a feather.




A good fancy dress hat, however, I don't think very tough so not sure how good it will be where it will be worn multiple time such in theatrical use.
 


Saturday 5 September 2020

I'm a Viking

This fur-trimmed sheepskin hat is destined for some dark age reenactment.


Used by many a Norseman to keep their heads warm


Made of 6 panels of sheepskin sewed together and then trimmed with some darker artificial fur


This is one of those hats that ended up in crew kit from an unknown source.





Saturday 29 August 2020

2 Sided Tricorn

This tricorn is 3 pointed but only has 2 of sides folded up


A nice black felt basic tricorn fit for anyone from the end of 17th but mainly 18th Century


Tricorn is actually a more modern name for the hat established in the mid 19th Century, in the 18th Century they were more often called cocked hats or 3 cornered hats or maybe just hats


 The tricorn is always worn with one of the corners pointing forward, although musket men did shift the point over one eye to help with firing their guns.