This is an identified US Model 1917 helmet from World War I. The American Expeditionary Force that deployed to fight in World War I arrived in France wearing campaign hats. Recognizing the need to provide these troops with helmets, some American units were issued the British "Brodie" helmet. Eventually the American manufactured Model 1917 helmet was issued, but not all units got them. This helmet is in remarkable condition for being 103 years old. It has ZC 255 stamped on the underside of the rim. It is believed that this stamp was used by the E.G. Budd manufacturing Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There were 7 companies that pressed and stamped the helmets into the bowl shape, E.G. Budd, the Sparks Withington Co., the Crosby Co., the Bossett Corp., the Columbian Enameling and Stamping Co., the Worchester Pressed Sttel Co. and the Benjamin Electric Company. The helmet liners were produced by 10 shoe manufacturing companies. The helmets and liners were delivered to the Ford Motor Company plant in Philadelphia where they were painted and assembled. Many of the helmets produced failed to make it to the Allied Expeditionary Force before the Armistice was signed. This helmet was most likely issued after the Armistice was signed, like so many of the painted helmets were. This one has been painted with Native American symbols, because it was issued to Private First Class Joseph Brother Of All, a member of the Yankton Sioux tribe from Lake Andes, South Dakota. The front of the helmet has the division insignia of the 88th Infantry Division, the right side has a buffalo skull, the left side an American Eagle and the back an upward facing arrow. Each symbol is highly detailed and the art work is very impressive. The top of the helmet is painted with white letters, AEF. On the bottom of the helmet rim, written in Infantry blue lettering is JOSEPH BROTHER-OF-ALL PRIVATE FIRST CLASS Co. E 351st INF. LAKE ANDES SO. DAK. The 351st Infantry Regiment was constituted and assigned to the 176th Infantry Brigade, 88th Division on 5 August, 1917. It was organized at Camp Dodge, Iowa on 30 August, 1917, and departed for France in July, 1918. The 351st saw limited action during WWI, replacing part of a French division in the trenches of the Alsace region from September until the signing of the Armistice on 11 November, 1918. The 351st Infantry Regiment returned to the United States and was demobilized at Camp Dodge, Iowa on 7 June, 1919. The chin strap is missing, but both bails are still on the helmet. The liner is intact and complete, and while it does show honest wear it is in good condition. The helmet has two small dents, one on the top and one on the right front and still retains the majority of the texturing applied during manufacturing. This one has some killer eye appeal! As soon as the library reopens I will be doing some research on PFC Brother Of All. If you collect WWI helmets, this one definitely deserves a place in your collection.

Item # AA2692

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