Cairns Fire Fighter Helmet and Mannequin Head Stand. Made in 1996. Comes with numerous informative labels throughout and the name "D CAMPBELL" emblazoned on the back. Hot item! 

Condition: Used. Will help you fight fires. 

Helmet Size: 13 1/2 x 19 x 8 in. 

Head Size: 7 x 8 1/2 x 13 in. 

#3654 . 

Since practically the moment mankind discovered fire, there have been firefighters. For centuries, originating in the Middle Ages, firefighters have worn helmets to protect them from heat, cinders, and falling objects. Although the shape of most fire helmets has changed little over the years, their composition has evolved from traditional leather or metals (including brass, nickel, and aluminum) to composite helmets constructed of lightweight polymers and other plastics. The traditional American firefighter’s helmet with its distinctive long rear brim and crest adornment was first developed around 1821-1836 in New York City. Henry T. Gratacap, a New York City luggage maker and volunteer firefighter, is often credited as the inventor of this style, developing specially treated leather and a segmented “comb” design that led to unparalleled durability and strength. He was specifically seeking a better design more tailored to the unique requirements for firefighting than the “stovepipe” top-hat style helmets that were then in use. Because he used an extremely thick and flame-resistant leather to make the helmets, “Leatherhead” is a term for both the early helmets and slang for firefighters themselves who still prefer leather helmets to more modern composite ones. Traditional leather helmets typically had a brass eagle adornment affixed to the helmet’s top front that secures a shield with information on it. The eagle’s origins can be traced to approximately 1825, with an unknown sculptor who created a commemorative figure for a volunteer firefighter’s grave. A Canadian company adopted the style, but changed the animal to a beaver, Canada’s national animal. Early on these ornaments protruded from the helmet and would catch on window sashes, wires, and other obstacles, frequently leading to damage. As a result, many fire departments now create plastic helmets without eagles or beavers attached, or with the image embossed onto them, jokingly referred to as salad bowls, turtle shells, and slick tops due to their streamlined shape. The first government leader to deal directly with firefighting rather than leaving it to civic volunteer organizations was Napoleon Bonaparte, who reordered the various firefighting companies in France into a unit of the French Army called the Sapeurs-pompiers. They wore a brass helmet with a high central crest, similar to that worn by dragoon cavalry, with a frontal plate on which a badge representing their city was embossed. This style of helmet was widely copied across Europe and beyond for the next century. Merryweather helmets were used by British fire brigades from the Victorian Era until well into the late 20th Century, based directly on those of the Sapeurs-pompiers. These helmets were also made of brass, but those belonging to officers were silver plated, to reinforce a militant hierarchy. Metal helmets are conductive, and turned into a massive safety hazard as the use of electricity became widespread, so new helmets made from a composite of cork and rubber began to appear around the electrified world in the 1920s. During World War II military-style steel helmets were adopted by the British to improve protection during air raids, and the style was copied by American and Australian firefighters, with the Buffalo Fire Department using aluminum until the 1980s. Today, nearly every part of North America, Europe, and Asia use plastic or composite helmets, with government-funded Fire Protection and Safety Agencies that establish standards for individual cities, regions, or countries to follow. Efforts are being made to encourage the adoption of the protective gear and more regimented organization of firefighters in Central and South America, Africa, and the Pacific nations, with varying degrees of success.

Used. Will help you fight fires.