WWI US Model 1917 85th Division Painted Helmet
Item #: AA3748
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This is a painted 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 107 years old. It has ZD 52 stamped on the underside of the rim. 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 in a four panel camouflage scheme using the primary colors of red, brown and blue, using yellow as a border between the different panels. The front panel is painted brown and red in an irregular pattern. Centered on the front panel is a white circle with the red letters CD, insignia for the 85th Infantry "Custer" Division. Below the division insignia are the initials of M.L.B. in blue paint. The left panel is painted blue and depicts a road heading towards a distant town. Off to the right side of the road is a large tree full of leaves and a tree stump. There is a blue sky above the town with birds flying towards the tree. The rear panel is painted red. Centered on the panel is a German Iron Cross, with the date 1914 in yellow on the left of the Iron Cross and 1918 in yellow on the right side of the Iron Cross. Also written in yellow is the word MAIRD., I have no idea what that refers to. The right panel is painted in two shades of blue and green. It is divided into two sections, the bottom depicting a body of water with a two mast sail boat on the left side. Just above the sails is a dividing line meant to indicate the shoreline, then green hills with blue skies and a partial sun. On the bottom of the helmet rim, written in red lettering is the name BROWN. Unfortunately I do not know who M.L. Brown was or what unit he was assigned to. I am 95% sure he was not in the 339th regiment. I found numerous Browns that served in the Polar Bear Expedition, but none with the initials of M.L.B. The 85th Infantry Division was activated on 25 August, 1917 at Camp Custer, Michigan. They would train there for a year, then sail for England. From England the 339th Infantry Regiment, supported by the 1st Battalion, 310th Engineers and the 337th Field Hospital, sailed to Archangel, Russia to fight in the Polar Bear Expedition. The remainder of the 85th Division sailed to France and arrived around 29 September, 1918 as part of the Allied Expeditionary Force. Like other later arriving divisions, the 85th was broken up to provide replacements to other divisions that were under strength from casualties in the earlier fighting. The "Custer Division" became a depot division and had it's headquarters at Lorraine, France. After the armistice was signed the 85th performed occupation duty in Germany, with the last elements of the division returning to the states by August of 1919. The Headquarters element of the 85th Division arrived at the port of Hoboken, New Jersey on 29 March, 1919. It was demobilized on 18 April, 1919 at Camp Custer, Michigan. I believe that M.L. Brown served with the Headquarters element of the division, but have not been able to find any information as yet. The chin strap is present, but is quite dry. It is not broken, but does have a couple of large cracks. The liner is intact and complete, and while it does show honest wear it is in good condition. The helmet has no dents and still retains the majority of the texturing applied during manufacturing. This one has some killer eye appeal! If you collect WWI helmets, this one definitely deserves a place in your collection.
Shipping Weight:
3 lbs
Item # AA3748
Your Price $1,100.00 USD
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