US WWII M1 Helmet

This specific configuration of the M1 helmet—a McCord front-seam shell with swivel bales and a Firestone high-pressure liner—is a classic example of a helmet from the mid-to-late war years (WWII).

Shell Identification: McCord Radiator & Mfg. Co.

• Production Date (Batch 575B): Batch numbers in the 500-600 range generally correspond to the summer of 1943. While some charts estimate mid-1943, the exact month of the McCord stamp can vary by a few months depending on the source.
• Front Seam: The stainless steel rim seam is located at the front. This is characteristic of McCord shells produced until November 1944, after which the seam moved to the rear.
• Swivel Bales: These movable chinstrap loops were officially introduced in October 1943 to prevent the earlier "fixed bales" from breaking off.
• M-44 Chinstraps: These are the olive drab (OD#7) straps introduced later in the war (standardized around late 1943/early 1944), usually featuring blackened hardware.

Liner Identification: Firestone Tire & Rubber Co.

• Manufacturer: The "F" logo in the crown identifies this as a high-pressure liner, made by Firestone in Akron, Ohio.
• Production Period: Firestone produced approximately 7.5 million liners between September 1942 and August 1945.
• Material: The liner is constructed from canvas and molded phenolic resin.

Transitional Context

This helmet is a transitional model. Although batch 575B was likely pressed in mid-1943 (when fixed bales were still the standard), the presence of swivel bales and M-44 chinstraps indicates that it was either part of the very first factory runs with movable hooks at the end of that year, or that the shell was later finished or refurbished at the factory with the newer hardware.