Museum of Croydon

Title

Fireman's Helmet

Description

A fireman's helmet worn by Bryan Cooke, a fire fighter who joined the Fire Brigade in central Croydon in 1961. The shape of the helmet was based on the original brass type. The comb on the top is to protect the head from falling building material. It is made of cork so it is light but dense. The lining is leather to further cushion the head. The helmet was originally black. It was painted yellow in 1965, when the Croydon Fire Brigade became part of the London Fire Brigade. Whereas before Bryan worked solely in the Croydon area, now he could be called out to big fires as far away as North London. The helmet has his name on the inside, as all uniform had to be labelled to prevent its getting lost.

Object Name

helmet

Date

1960s

Material

cork; leather

Measurements

whole: 430 x 310 x 350 mm

Theme

Home & Community | Personal Hygiene & Public Health

Location

Museum of Croydon | Area 5 | Kiosk 2

Type

Museum Objects

Repository

Croydon Museum and Heritage Service