my8trax

I wondered if they still issue night duty helmets, and how do you tell whether a bobby helmet with black fittings is a newer night duty helmet, or one of the earlier period helmets, when the fittings were all black...other than the obvious look of age. Thanks, Oliver

Are the number of side vent holes, 2 per side, or 1 per side (on none) any indication of the era? I am guessing certain counties differ in whether they should actually have 1 or 2 per side? Or was it just what the particular manufacturer happened to supply. Thanks, Oliver

Thanks Nick, good to know. Oliver

I believe this might be the link http://www.pmcc-club.co.uk/ The helmet database would be a great idea. There just does not seem to be a really good reference out there except maybe the book Badges of Office by M.B. Taylor (I haven't seen it). They only have hard cover on Amazon US at around 120 dollars plus postage, and not many softcover copies on Amazon UK with an understandably high shipping cost the US. Plus, I believe it's references ended in the late 80's. Don't have the money for that right now. Thanks, Oliver

Thanks Ian, I do have that one bookmarked in my group of sites. Oliver

Sorry, i see the chart just dumped in as text. Please ignore it, as it isn't much use unless it is in the chart it was on. Maybe I can figure out a way to put it on the internet and provide a like, but I am not very good at that. Oliver

HI, here is a rough list I started...I am far from an expert on this, just trying to get a list started. Some terms may be wrong, I may have left a county off, and the info I got was just off the internet....I tried to use reliable sources. I am not sure how to attach it or make it available for change/edit. Also, if the ball top had a different configuration on the base I tried to show a rough pattern, but I don't think it will show up. This is Microsoft Excel 2007. Maybe I can email it to someone who has more knowledge than me to make available to all to work on? Thanks, Oliver (hope the below list shows up) cockscomb ball rose band AVON & SOMERSET X narrow black braid band BEDFORDSHIRE X wide black plastic CAMBRIDGESHIRE X narrow black braid band CHESHIRE X wide black plastic CITY OF LONDON X wide black plastic CLEVELAND CUMBRIA DERBYSHIRE DEVON & CORNWALL X wide black plastic DORSET DURHAM shield wide black plastic DYFED-POWYS ESSEX shell narrow black braid band GLOUCHESTERSHIRE GREATER MANCHESTER GWENT X narrow silver braid band HAMPSHIRE X wide black plastic HERTFORDSHIRE X narrow silver braid band HUMBERSIDE KENT X narrow black braid band LANCASHIRE LEICHESTERSHIRE wide dk. Blue cloth LINCONSHIRE MERSEYSIDE X wide black plastic METROPOLITAN POLICE X narrow black braid band NORFOLK NORTHAMPTONSHIRE X narrow silver braid band NORTHUMBRIA NORTH WALES NORTH YOURKSHIRE NOTTINGHAMSHIRE wide dk. Blue cloth SHOUTH WALES X wide silver braid band SOUTH YORKSHIRE STAFFORDSHIRE SUFFOLK SURREY SUSSEX X narrow black braid band THAMES VALLEY X wide black plastic WARWICKSHIRE WEST MERCIA X wide silver braid band WEST MIDLANDS WEST YORKSHIRE X narrow silver braid band WILTSHIRE

Yes, it is indeed the Blue Meanie from Yellow Submarine: a large statue in the Beatles gift shop in the Mirage at Las Vegas. We traveled there to see the Circ du solele show, Love. It was great, and in fact did have some performers in mock bobby uniforms!

Thanks, that would be a great help to me and I am sure there is a great knowledge base here.

I think I found it....Londonbobbies.com, however it no longer seems to be active. I believe this is the site that had a section that gave all the info for county type of helmet, badge and band it should have. It now comes up as Londonbob.tripod.com, and none of the pages seem to work. I am really sorry I did not save the printout I made years ago.

Thank you, I have it bookmarked and you are correct, it is a great site!

Hi, althought from the US, my wife and I visited London a few years ago. It peaked my interest in bobby helmets so I collected a ball top, coxcomb and rose helmet. At that time I found a website that showed a reference for the counties and what type helmet they used ( coxcomb, rose, or ball top) and also which was the proper band (black, silver, etc). I have tried and tried, but can't find it back...maybe it has been removed since that time. There are so many helmets for sale on the internet that are assembled from different pieces, I found that reference invaluable. Does any one know of another source to reference the above. Glad to belong to your Club. Thanks, Oliver