Canadian MkII Helmet "CL/C: 1942 Canadian Motor Lamp Co "

The marking CL/C: 1942 on this helmet indicates that the helmet shell was produced in 1942 by the Canadian Motor Lamp Company of Windsor, Ontario.

Although these were standard Mark II (MkII) "Brodie" helmets for the Canadian Armed Forces during World War II, many of these examples were reused after the war by the Dutch PTT (Postal, Telegraph and Telephone Service) for Civil Defence (BB) or corporate protection.

Markings & Production

• CL/C: The manufacturer code for the Canadian Motor Lamp Company.
• 1942: The year in which the steel shell was pressed.
• Batch number: Often, next to the stamp, you will also see a number (e.g., "77" or "102"), which refers to the specific batch of steel.

Link with the Dutch PTT

• After the liberation, large quantities of Canadian and British equipment remained behind in the Netherlands.
• Post-war use: The PTT distributed these surplus Canadian helmets to personnel for civil defence and emergency services.
• Modifications: Sometimes you will find a Dutch-made liner or specific PTT features, such as a stamped logo or the letters "PTT" on the outside or inside the liner.
• Liner: The shell is Canadian, but the liner may still be the original Canadian model (often made by Viceroy Manufacturing Co.) or a later Dutch replacement.

Typical Features

• Material: Non-magnetic manganese steel, designed to withstand shrapnel.
• Color: Originally matte olive green or khaki, but PTT versions have been repainted (for example, in a different shade of green or black).
• Chin strap: The Canadian version usually had a khaki or green canvas strap with two springs on the sides. Now the helmet has a late-war English version.