Brian Wolfe

A variation of the custodian style helmet was the "Noddy" that was used for a short time on the Velocette (motorcycle) of the 1960s era. This helmet was strenghtened and had a cork lining to add more protection for the Velocette rider. These also have a sturdier leather chin strap. These were soon replaced, (as were the Velocettes), with a helmet similar to the motorcycle helmet commonly seen in use today.

Here is a view of all three styles.

I had to keep the sizes small and close up due to uploading size restriction.

Brian

I offer this suggestion (last page) as a source to the design that influenced the custodian helmet, however, this is not to say that this is the only, nor even correct, answer to the question. As always this post is meant as a platform for discussion. If other members would like to weigh in with their theories and opinions please feel free to do so, you views are always welcomed.

Today we see three styles of custodian helmets in use, the comb (or coxcomb), the boss (or rose) and the ball top. The comb style is the most common with 21 out of the 43 police forces in the Home Office Territorial Forces of England and Wales using the comb style. This is followed by 18 using the boss style and only 4 using the ball top style.

I would like to start this topic of British Police Headgear off with a discussion of the Custodian Helmet and it is with hope on my part that other members will add to it. It is the intention that in time all forms of British headgear will be dicsussed and displayed here.

The most easily recognizable and iconic piece of police headgear in the world has to be the British Police Helmet. The Bobbies helmet of more correctly, the custodian helmet, as we know it today, was developed around the turn of the last century. Prior to the custodian helmet, the headgear worn by British Police resembled a top-hat. The reason for the top-hat design was to prevent the police force from being mistaken as a Para-military group. One account that I have read suggests that the design for the custodian helmet was influenced by another iconic piece of headgear, the German Pickelhaube. I'm not convinced of the German pickelhaube connection. As a fellow member of the GMIC and the author of the book, "The Policeman's Lot" by Mervyn Mitton, states on page 118 of his book, "The top-hat was worn for 34 years, but, in 1863, a new style was tried experimentally, based on the military helmet of that period, and from 1865 this became the standard headgear".

In support of this hypothesis I offer the work of another author, also a member of the GMIC, Stuart Bates, who states in his book, "The Wolseley Helmet In Pictures From Omdurman to Alamien", by Stuart Bates with Peter Suciu, the following. "The origins of the Wolsely helmet are shrouded in mystery although it appears, on the photographic record, first in the 1896-98 campaign in the Sudan". To my way of looking at this the Wolsely helmet certainly was designed before the suggested date by the photographs of 1896-98, therefore the design dtae for the custodian helmet has a military contempory already in the United Kingdom upon which to base the design, without the need to use the German pickelhaube as inspiration.

Hi Brian,

that is a good one.

I am also looking for one if you don/t mind can you please let me know the source (if thats ok) so that i can check if i can get one for me

Thanks

Amit

Hello Amit,

Welcome to the forum.

I don't recall which dealer I got this medal from, probably an eBay find, sorry I can't remember.

Regards

Brian

Welcome to the forum and a great item for your first post.

An excellent find Nick, thanks for posting it.

Regards

Brian

Hi Mervyn,

I would think the hilt was cast much like the hilts on some American Civil War bayonets and also British Bandsman's swords. So really the most work would be in "cleaning up" the casting and if it has been plated that would have been done after the cleaning of the cast hilt. Your point regarding the finger ring may well direct us to a European manufacture.

I hope some of the other members familiar with edged weapon will weigh in on this topic.

Regards

Brian

It almost looks too good to have been anything but a private purchase as it dosen't really follow what you usually see. Where there swords worn by individuals for personal protection during the 1850s?

Regards

Brian

Here's a post that may help.

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/34119-the-star-medals/page__st__20__p__325706__hl__%2Bair+%2Bcrew+%2Beurope__fromsearch__1#entry325706

There is another one in the same section that you might also check out.

Regards

Brian

Here's a couple of posts that may help.

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/34119-the-star-medals/page__st__20__p__325706__hl__%2Bair+%2Bcrew+%2Beurope__fromsearch__1#entry325706

I hope I have posted them correctly.

Regards

Brian

Also take a look at the hole in the top of the star where the ring goes through. It should be round, many fakes are more oval than round.

I think there is a post somewhere on the forum dealing with these so perhaps a search for that post would be helpful.

I'd do it but we are hosting a dinner party and snuck away to check the GMIC...priorities you know.

Regards

Brian

Hello Mervyn,

I have also noticed that the small ornaments that are usually found under the wrapings of the grip seem to be absent. I also think the hand guard could be one made from a larger guard that was cut down for use on this sword. I have an example of this on a sword dating from the 1650s so it was a common enough practise.

I would not hazard to make a guess as to value without actually seeing it "in hand". So much depends on that inscription and how much someone would want to add this to their collection. If the incription ends up being nothing grand then you are looking at a collector of lower end swords, that is not an insult as I have always had to collect in that area myself, because of economics. This is not a hint to purchase by the way.

Please keep us posted as to what you discover about this sword and if you do get an accurate evaluation.

Regards

Brian

Hi Mervyn,

I'm sure you meant "forged" and not "cast" when speaking of Japanese blades, the forging methods of fine blades has not changed through the centuries. At first glance the blade looks odd as there are no temper lines (I won't use proper terms to save confusion), however this blade is probably in need of professonal polishing that is best done in Japan itself. I have a feeling that someone may have tried to clean the blade themselves to make it look better. Having an old blade polished is an expensive proposition, by the way. I notice that the tang has no file marks which are important in the identification. Perhaps these were polished away long after the sword was made, probably well into modern times. There is a whole study into the different file patterns used so these marks should never be removed.

My other comment will not help the sword but may benifit other collectors in the future. The tang looks to have been cleaned of the rust found on old blade tangs. Never, never, never, clean the old rust off the tang of an authentic Japanese blade. Of course if the rust had not been cleaned off then the file marks would still be there as well. This rust is usually black in colour and can be used by experts to date the blade even if the inscription is of no help. Another word of caution regarding signed blades. Many famous master sword maker's names were copied by other smiths to enhance the value of the blade being produced. This forgery took place even back in the period while the original master was active in sword production.

All in all it looks like a nice sword but the value has been greatly deminished through all of the cleaning that I suspect has taken place. It would be a nice sword to add to a beginner's collection but I doubt a serious collector of Japanese blades would be interested. Of course this is based on the photos you have provided and looking at the sword in person and being able to turn the blade to different angles, in natural light, may show the blade to be better than the photos show.

Thanks for posting the sword and I look forward to hear what other members have to say.

Regards

Brian

Hello Chris,

Welcome to the GMIC.

This looks to be in perfect condition. I took a quick look at your web page, it's very impressive,though I only had time to look at the first page I will delve further into it later today. These all look to be of new manufacture, are they authentic or modern reproductions? Your decsription was not clear on that point.

Thanks for posting your keris collection, it's quite impressive.

Regards

Brian

An extremely interesting artifact Mervyn.

I must admit to being a bit envious...an S.C truncheon, very nice.

Thanks for posting it.

Regards

Brian

More than a collection of memorabilia it's an important archive.

Thanks for sharing this with us Mervyn.

Regards

Brian

I'm not a expert but I've done some research into the German medal collecting world and I would agree with Gordon and Kapten.

Regards

Brian

Here is a closer view of the two soldiers and their caps.

Brian

While looking through the Osprey, Men-at-arms-series, Wolfe's Army, I came upon this drawing that shows a couple of infantrymen from 1758 and 1759. I'm not sure this is exactly what is being looked for but it is quite early.

Regards

Brian

That's a great addition to your collection Stuart.

Thanks for posting it.

Regards

Brian

Brian

The Surrey Specials helmet plate has changed again and now has the lettering picked out in a gold colour. Next time I see one I'll get it photographed and added here.

Regards Simon

Thanks Simon, that would be great, I'll watch for it.

Regards

Brian

Hi Brian

There are two version of the Surrey Specials helmet plate, the only others that I know of are City of London who have 2 SC and senior SC and Norfolk had one which is no longer issued they use the same as regulars now. You can see them on my web page www.thebadgerslair.com

Regards Alan

Thanks Alan, I will indeed check it out.

Regards

Brian

Here is the view of the reverse. There is a lapel pin grip over the spike at the top which I have left in place as these tend to be quite sharp and fingers tend to be a favoured target.

Regards

Brian

Here is something that arrived just a short while ago. It is a custodian helmet plate for the Surrey Special Constabulary. I was not aware that the police issued custodian helmets to the Specials and this is the first one I've seen. Mervyn has informed me that this is something that is fairly resent, so no need to watch for any with the King's Crown.

The enamel has been damaged but then the first thing to go in an altercation is the headgear so enameled plates are probably subject to damage for this very reason. We won't get into possible careless use on the Special's part. As if that ever happens.

Regards

Brian

Over the past decade, in my opinion, there has been a sharp increase in greed. The televisioon is now brimming with shows like Pawn Stars (yes "pawn" not porn), American Pickers and now Canadian Pickers and Extreme Pawn just to name a few with several others poised to enter the field. This increases the awareness of the value of objects, silver or otherwise. This greed may actualy save silver medals from the melting pot as the value of the collectable will start to go up and those who profit in the selling of anything that generates that profit will start to find even other more profitable markets.

In the era of the 1970 silver rush the only market advertised was that of "scrap silver to dollars" with no mention of "other" markets. I've just heard an advertisement on the radio telling of a "show" set up to purchase used gold, silver and collectables which included the mention of medals and miltary itmes. The mention of military is something new for these buying shows.

Perhaps the greedy will serve a purpose in the end, even though it could bring higher prices on the medals market. The meek shall inherit the earth, but only after the greedy have sucked it dry.

Regards

Brian