WWII, HELMET, SUN, RIGID, FIBER, PRESSED FIBER HELMET, INTERNATIONAL HAT COMPANY, OFFICERS

This helmet has two unique design features intended to call back to the original designs for pith helmets. The first is the bump at the top, representing a ventilator, and the second are the five folds along the side, representing the puggaree which would often be found on pith helmets. There were a few changes in design as the helmet continued to be used as well. Early helmets had a leather chinstrap, which went on to 1941 and was replaced by the fabric chinstrap seen on this example. The other main change is in the vent holes. Early examples had 3 ventilation holes at the base, while later examples had 4 such as in this example. Olive drab outer and green cloth inner. Hard rubber headband. This helmet is marked, but faded. Reads “INTERNATIONAL HAT CO. NXsx (cannot read the stock number), JAN. 9. 1941. Officers gilt cap insignia is a screw back. The condition of their helmet is exceptional however, the helmet does display a few minor scuff marks. 

This was America's version of the pith helmet, first being adopted into military use in 1940 and it continued to see usage throughout the 1980s. They were designed by Jesse Hawley and were first manufactured by the Hawley Products Company, but as demand increased the International Hat Company started manufacturing them as well.

Aside from the stamps, there's an easy way to tell the maker of these helmets at a glance, and that's to look at the faux puggaree. Hawley helmets would have 4 folds, while IHC helmets have 5 folds.

The International Hat Company was the first manufacturer of the World War II model of fiber helmets for the U.S. Army, beginning in June 1940 to 1946. The U.S. Army began ordering the World War II model of fiber helmets from Hawley Products from January 1941 to June 1942.  During their respective production times, Hawley Products created 27,751 fiber helmets for the Army, whereas International Hat generated 27,434. The helmet eventually replaced the traditional but more expensive felt campaign hat.

The fiber helmet was originally designed by Jesse Hawley in the early 1930s. Hawley subsequently designed the first fiber helmet liner for the original M1 steel helmet, alongside the General Fibre Company, a subsidiary of the International Hat Company. The first patent for the Hawley pressed fiber sun helmet was petitioned to the U.S. government in 1935 and subsequently granted in 1938.

In 1941, the U.S. Marines ordered 44,000 waterproof, khaki fiber helmets to be made of 124 warp and 54 filling of threads per inch, with a maximum weight per square yard of 6 ounces. The helmet was first issued to the First Marine Division during their 1941 deployment to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba International Hat produced 20,000 Marine fiber helmets for $1.35 each, while Hawley Products produced 24,000 Marine fiber helmets at a cost of $1.36 each. In December 1942, the Marine quartermaster ordered an additional 100,000 fiber helmets. This included 50,000 to the Depot Quartermaster of San Francisco, 25,000 to the Clothing Officer of San Diego, and 25,000 to the Depot Quartermaster of Philadelphia.[1] Fiber helmets were worn by USMC recruits and the Recruit Training Depots during World War II.

The American fiber helmet (also known as the American pith helmet, safari helmet, tropical helmet, sun helmet, elephant helmet, or pressed fiber helmet) is a type of sun helmet made of pressed fiber material that has been used as part of the military uniform by various branches and units of the United States Armed Forces from 1934 to the present day. As of 2017, the helmet continues to be worn by U.S. military rifle range cadres, as an icon for marksmanship excellence. The helmet is technically not a pith helmet, insofar as it is not constructed from pith material. However, in the more generic sense of design style, this type of sun helmet is modeled similarly to one and thus often referred to in common use as a pith helmet. Additionally, the helmet is not a combat helmet, insofar as it was not originally designed to protect the head during combat. However, the helmet was nonetheless assigned, at various times in the 1930s and 1940s, as combat gear for use in active theaters.

The fiber helmet has been used as a commercial hat for civilians, as well as by the military. At various times, the helmet has been used by all branches of the services, including the military police, marine aviators, officer and enlisted ranks, military parades, graduation ceremonies, and combat training. The helmet has most actively been used by the United States Marine Corps, particularly during marksmanship course training. During World War II, it was issued to all ranks of the Marine service. As of 2017, it is the longest used helmet in U.S. military history, having been worn by soldiers in the Second Sino-Japanese War, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the United States invasion of Grenada, and the Gulf War.

Despite its longevity of service, the fiber helmet was never given a model name. It is officially known as "helmet, sun, rigid, fiber." The helmet was originally designed by Jesse Hawley. It was first manufactured by Hawley Products Company in St. Charles, Illinois, and the International Hat Company in St. Louis, for several decades in the 20th century. In the 1960s, a modified version of the helmet was constructed of plastic molding material, as opposed to the original fibrous construction. However, the design remained consistent otherwise.

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