GSW 1942 AP helmets

Gentlemen,

I have some questions regarding the 1942 GSW, AP marked helmets. In Roger Lucy's 'Tin Lids', it states that GSW produced 30,000 bodies in 1942 marked AP before switching the batch code to DP & H. I have two of these helmets but they seem to be stamped Mk I, whilst to me it looks like a Mk II.

As I might be putting them up for sale, I want to make sure they check out. Apparently, the one of which I am attaching photographs was left behind in the Netherlands. It has an M service number on the chinstrap. However, as these helmets were meant for Home Defence duties, I find the 'left behind' story a little strange. Does anyone have any ideas? Is this a possibility?




Unfortunately, there are no clear photographs in the book about the type of screw that kept helmet body and liner together. I recently sold a helmet and the buyer notified me the screw was no good. I am attaching photos photos of the other GSW AP helmet screw and would like to know if this is what is considered a 'normal' screw. If anyone has photographs of a good screw, I would like to see them.



Thank you

The 30,000 AP batch lot helmets were rejects by the military and DP&H got permission to acquire them for ARP use. I don't know if all the AP batch were rejected or not.

The Mk II helmet is made up of a Mk I shell and a liner, that is why the helmet is stamped Mk I (it only refers to the shell)

The liner retaining screw looks good to me, although the nut may be upside down - it looks like the flat side is facing out.

I'm pretty sure the nut did not change through the war but the screw half came in two sizes, one like you have shown in the photo's and the other version has a head that is maybe 1/3 the size of that - it is quite small in comparison.

Hopefully someone a little more tech savvy can post a picture showing the difference between the two.

Hi, thank you for your interesting reply. I did not know the helmets were rejected for military use - I thought they were preordained for ARP use. Having said that, some A P marked helmets do show up from time to time in the Netherlands on attics or in barns. Some of them must have made it through one way or the other.