British WW2 Mk I Brodie Helmet, Dated 1939, Liner by Vero

Steel helmet shell painted matt grey-green. Original black leather liner and canvas chin strap.

I believe this would be the last variation of the Mark I Brodie, featuring the sprung webbing chin strap introduced in 1936, but predating the introduction of the Mark II in 1940.

The helmet shell is stamped ‘1 1939’ indicating it was produced in January 1939. Its liner is attached by a screw and marked ‘7 VERO I 1939’, indicating a size 7 made by Everitt W Vero & Co Ltd in January 1939.

Everitt W Vero & Co Ltd was founded in 1878 as the Vero Hat Company. As well as conventional hats it manufactured pith helmets – an adapted form of which became popular helmets for the game of polo. Riding helmets then inspired a line of motorcycle crash helmets. During WW1 it produced cork-reinforced flying helmets for the Royal Flying Corps, and during WW2 like many such manufacturers it again turned to making military material like the liner for this piece. Everitt Vero Jr, the founder’s son, was an RAF airman during the war and went on the be a founding member of the first British helmet standard committee in 1951. Post-war the company continued to produce motorcycle and riding helmets, incorporating new materials like fibreglass and polystyrene, until it ceased trading in 1990.

No dents or and significant damage to the shell. Some minor scuffing, but with no significant loss to the paint except around the rim, where bright steel has been revealed in some places, and on small areas of the inner surface near the rim. The leather and canvas parts are both excellent with no significant wear, the chinstrap remains flexible and the springs at each end function well to ‘elasticate’ it.