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[perezfan]

Originally Posted by antiquefootball

Perez,

There are a bunch of different branches to the football helmet's evolutionary tree. I started at the roots (ear protector/4-strap) and ran out the branch that was the most logical path to get to the modern helmet. The helmet shown as the 1905 example is a flattop. I believe that it is around the 0:31 second mark in the video. Flattops came out around 1905 and were sold all the way through the mid 1920's. 8-spokes share that same timeline, first appearing around 1905 and continued to be used by players all the way through the 1920's. However, based on my catalog research, at no time did 8-spokes represent the pinnacle of helmet design. They were introduced as a less expensive and more airy alternative.

Check out the charts below the video for the evolution of Spalding and Reach helmets between 1894 and 1925. These are comprehensive and show every helmet style manufactured during that period.

Thanks Chris...

Hey, is there a name for the style shown at the :53 - :56 second mark? I have a Spalding just like this, and call it a "Tortoise Shell" (just because I heard a dealer refer to something of that nature many years ago).

Thanks again for the great website, and valuable info!
Mark

[antiquefootball]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Thanks Chris...

Hey, is there a name for the style shown at the :53 - :56 second mark? I have a Spalding just like this, and call it a "Tortoise Shell" (just because I heard a dealer refer to something of that nature many years ago).

Thanks again for the great website, and valuable info!
Mark

Mark,

Just like the "executioner," the "tortoise shell" is a modern description of that style of helmet. Spalding started producing this helmet around 1929 and referred to it by Model number. The No. FWT (featherweight) was their top of the line head helmet in 1930, and was one of the first helmets equipped with Spalding's web strapping suspension inside the helmet. The No. T and the No. TL were similar models but with less expensive materials and features. See the attached catalog page from the 1930 Spalding Football Guide. Send me your email address and I'll send you a high resolution scan of the page.

Chris

[perezfan]

Chris-

Email sent... Thanks so much!

Mark

Chris,

Great research and method to show the evolution of football helmets. The site is awesome. Please add me to your mailing list: roslynyippersbaseball@gmail.com

Thank you, Ty

[xplainer]

Most excellent.
Enjoyed that.