Original Item: Only One Available. This is a fine complete example of an all original French brass fire helmet designed in the style of the legendary Adrian helmet pattern that was eventually replaced at the end of WW2. Complete with brass helmet plate of castle with flaming bomb in shield surrounded by oak leaf branches beneath a scroll banner that reads SAPEUR POMPIERS DE RUEIL. This translates to “Firefighters from Rueil.”
The liner is a quality dark brown leather eight finger style with adjustment thong in crown. The liner is held in place by several split pins, which unfortunately have lost their grip on the liner as it shank, but they are still present. Comes complete with adjustable leather chinstrap, which shows wear.
This helmet issued to the “Sapeurs Pompiers”. The fire service in France is known as Sapeurs-pompiers. Pompier (firefighter) etymologically comes from the concept of pumping (water) & refers to the manual pumps that were originally used. Sapeur means “sapper” & refers to the 1st official firefighting unit created by Napoleon I which was part of the military engineering arm.
A fine example of a classic fire helmet dating from as early as the Victorian era and up through the Great War.