size

[polarbear]

Without a stamp how do you determine the size of a 1915 French helmet?
I have seen ways to measure German helmets
www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-determine-the-size-of-your-WW1-German-helmet-/10000000177022018/g.html

Does the above work for the French helmet?

Thanks


simon

[1886lebel]

The Adrian helmets were sized to the shell itself and ranged from small to extra large, the three sizes were Size A (53-55 cm) Size B (56-57 cm) and size C (58-59). They had a one piece leather chinstrap with adjustable buckle and a one piece wool-backed, leather liners which also were sized, A 54 to 56 cm; B 57 to 59 cm; and C 60 to 62 cm with aluminum spacers which can decrease the inside diameter of the shell even though this was not what they were used for, these were to help the flow of air inside the helmet. Adrian helmet liners will also vary, as there are two so-called version produced during the war. The 1st pattern was made from blackened leather with 7 fingers and the 2nd pattern was usually made form natural brown leather with 6 fingers, there does not seen to be a correlation between the pattern and year of issue. The wool used in them could range from red, dark blue, blue-gray, horizon blue or moutarde (mustard) as they used any scrap wool to make them with. Chinstraps were made of pig, cow, and horse skin. They were fastened to the helmet with a either brass or steel tubular rivet set with a hand rivet setter. The chinstrap buckles could be brass or steel and were sometimes painted black 'jappaned'.
The way to determine the size of the shell is by running a tape measure inside the helmet running the circumference by the tabs for the liner.

Patrick