7 replies to this topic

[VULCAN]

1st post so go easy on me,

I have what looks like a Herbert Jhonson? vintage crash helmet.in what looks like British raceing green colour.
What i need to know is how can you tell what make it is and what year etc, there is just a number 174, written on the inside and a size label.
a few pictures also added, if it is a real H,J. then i would like to find out any history about these helmets,
how many produced and who used to wear them etc.

Any help with the Helmet would be much appreciaited.as i seem to find very little info about them on the web.
Many thanks Rich.

[T54]

Looks like a Cromwell to me...

[VULCAN]

Cromwell it could be!,thou i have no idea what a cromwell is made of and any other major diffrence from the 2 makes.
Bit of a puzzel for me.
many thanks for your reply.

[T54]

I have a period Herbert Johnson as well as my own period Cromwell and your helmet does not look like my HJ... and a lot more like my Cromwell. I think that the Cromwell are made of compressed cork and some kind of a tape wrapped around, and some adhesive.

[VULCAN]

Thank you again for the reply ,
this shell is not made from cork. more like a resin impregnated with cloth.?

[T54]

It's cork impregnated with resin. It LOOKS like resin but I had a very bad crash in the 1960s and demolished one of these, and cracked it in two pieces. That's when you know what they are made of...

Yes, I retained the subsequent brain damage of course.

Here is my surviving example:



Because it is the motorcycle model, no front visor of course...

Edited by T54, 20 February 2010 - 20:03.

[Wilyman]

The "Herbie" Johnson helmet got away from the basin type by having a temple guard on each side and the rear of the helmet curved down slightly. That and the peak and full visor gave them a better look.

The helmet in the photo is definately a Cromwell. It should have the brand inside. My late brother in law wore one in the late '50's and '60's for motor bike scrambles.
I had the job of tidying his up along with sashes and trophies for a display at his funeral.

[dcotocruz]

Hi Iam looking for Herbert Johnson Icrash helmet nformation, I am collector and I want to know if this helmets were popular in USA for Cars of Motorcycles. Also if the jet HJ helmets were sell in USA.
Regards
dcotocruz