custodian helmet

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Custodian helmetFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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The current custodian helmet used by theMetropolitan Police Servicein London

The Custodian helmetis the usual name given to the helmet worn by male police officers inEngland and Wales (and formerly in Scotland) and certain other places around the world. It issynonymous with the 'bobby on the beat' image.

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Contents

[hide]

1 History

2 Description

3 Production

4 Use outside the Commonwealth

5 Use outside of public safety

6 See also

7 References

History[edit]

Custodian helmets worn byGlasgow Policein 1919.

The custodian helmet is the headgear traditionally worn by malepoliceconstablesandsergeantswhile on foot patrol in England and Wales. Officers of all ranks in mostforces are also issued a flat,peaked capthat is worn on mobile patrol in a vehicle. Ranks abovesergeant wear the flat cap only.
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ia.org/wiki/Custodian_helmet#Use_outside_the_Commonwealthhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custodian_helmet#Productionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custodian_helmet#Descriptionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custodian_helmet#Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custodian_helmethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custodian_helmet#cite_note-HFAQ-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Police_Servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Introduction_to_referencing/1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Custodian_helmet&action=edithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability


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The original design was based on theVictorianBritish ArmyHome Service helmet,which itselfwas based on thePrussian helmet.

It was first adopted by the LondonMetropolitan Policein 1863 to replace the 'stovepipe'tophatworn since 1829. In 1863, the Metropolitan Police replaced the previous uniform of whitetrousers, swallow-tailed coat and top hat in favour of very dark blue trousers, a more modern

button up tunic and the early type of helmet which had an upturned brim at the front and a raisedspine at the back, running from the bottom to the top of the helmet, which became known as the'cockscomb'.

The early Metropolitan Police helmet had a 'garter' style badge on the front of the helmet whichhad the officer's personal number anddivisional letterin the centre, backed by a leather insert.This was surrounded by a wreath design which had the words 'Metropolitan Police' around theoutside and was topped with the reigning monarch's crown. This style changed in 1875, when anearly version of thebrunswick starwas adopted without the upturned brim seen in the previousstyle.

During the 1930s, theHome Officeattempted to standardise the design of the helmets with the'Home Office Pattern', after it became evident that since the Metropolitan Police had adopted itand produced their own badge, many small county and borough police forces followed suit andindividually adopted their own style badges and designs, which led to many different styles anddesigns. Some forces adopted the helmet without any badge, others designed their own, usuallywith the county's arms or crest in the centre. One force adopted an Australian style bush hat andone wore a helmet constructed of straw.

The 'Home Office Pattern' consisted of a helmet with theBrunswick starbadge (commonlyknown as a 'helmet plate') which would feature the reigning monarch's crown, with the name ofthe force imprinted on the plate. The top of the helmet had a 'rose top', which was a raised metalrose, largely used as an ornament to cover the ventilation hole. However, this standardisationprocess was largely unsuccessful, with many different designs being worn by today's policeforces nationally.

The term 'custodian helmet' is used to describe all types of helmet, but in fact only refers to the

original helmets which were made of cork and then covered in felt. Internally, helmets up until the1970s, and in certain areas the 1980s, had only a sweat band to allow it to sit correctly on thewearers head, with a single chin strap. The helmet plate and either a 'cockscomb' or 'rose top'fixed to the top of the helmet, were fitted by pressing the metal lugs attached to the badgesthrough the helmet and then having small matchstick-size pieces of wood pushed through thelugs to secure them. Other helmet furniture included a 'ball top' and in some cases a 'spike top'

During the 1970s and 1980s, before specially adapted 'riot helmets' were produced, officers wereexpected to conduct public order and crowd control in the standard beat duty helmet. The corkconstruction provided little protection to attack and hand-thrown missiles. In order to providemore protection, the construction of the helmets changed. Visually they remained the same,however instead of being constructed of cork they were now made out of a very hard wearingplastic material and covered in felt. Internally, they were padded with foam which was factory

fitted into the shell of the helmet with a webbing-style harness to allow it to sit on the head in thecorrect manner. Also, two chin straps were added at this time, one for normal duties which was athin leather strap and a 'public order strap' which was made of thick material and included a chin-cup to securely hold the helmet on the head. As well as these changes, helmet plates werealtered so that the fixings on them were no longer lugs, but were prong-type pins which wereinserted into the helmet and spread apart, so that if the helmet plate was hit by a missile, the lugswould not cause injury to the wearer.

As well as in the UK, other forces using the custodian helmet include theStates of JerseyPolice,States of Guernsey Police Service,Isle of Man Constabulary,Royal GibraltarPolice,Bermuda Police.

During 2002, attempts were made by police forces in England to replace the custodian helmet

with a more suitable alternative. Some forces adopted baseball-caps for a very short time andalmost all reverted to the helmet. Humberside Police tried a 'squat' helmet which was
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considerably shorter than the normal size helmets, and was adopted for use and is still used in2012.

All police forces in England and Wales have their own 'helmet plates' attached to the front of thehelmet, most of which feature the county's coat of arms/crest or 'EiiR' after Elizabeth II in thecentre. The vast majority are also topped by the Queen's Crown and change with each new

monarch. Also, most helmet plates now feature parts with colouredenamel,such as the forcename or crest. Adding enamel to helmet plates has only been done since around 1985, mostforces before this had plain metal ones with no or little colour. Some forces also used 'nightplates', which were usually darkened apart from the centre, and 'day plates' which were metal, inorder to not give the officer away at night time. This practice had almost completely ceased by1973.

Police forces in the UK did not issue custodian helmets toSpecial Constablesup until around1995; however all forces now issue them to male officers.

The traditional cork construction often ledCIDpersonnel to call their uniformed colleagues"woodentops".

Helmets are no longer worn by police officers in Scotland, but may be seen worn by uniformed

Metropolitan Police officers when on Royal duties in Scotland.The equivalent for female officers is a 'bowler' hat, which still affords the same protection as themale custodian.Police Community Support Officersonly wear flat caps, which have a blue bandon them rather than the police officer'sSillitoe Tartanto distinguish them from police officers.

Description[edit]

Crest-type custodian helmet; in this case with theHampshire Constabulary's atypical badge

Of the 43Home Officeterritorial forces inEngland and Wales,20 currently use the comb style,eighteen use the rosetop style, and four use the ball style. Some forces worespikeson top of thehelmet, although these have now been phased out.Thames Valley Policeis the only police forcein England and Wales not to use the custodian helmet. It was phased out in 2009 because ofbudget cuts, and all male officers now wear peaked caps regardless of the duty they areperforming.

Both chin straps can be folded up inside the helmet when not in use, for more strenuous activity.Most officers choose not to use the chin strap for day to day duties.
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All forces except theCity of London Police,Hampshire ConstabularyandWest MerciaConstabularyuse theBrunswick staras the basis for their helmet plate. The helmet worn bymembers of theIsle of Man Constabularyis white,

[2]rather than blue, and officers of theStates of

Jersey Policeon duty inSt Helierwear white helmets during the summer months.[3]

White Colonial custodian helmet worn by actors portraying NWMP officers

Helmets closely following the British model were widely worn by the police forcesofCanada,AustraliaandNew Zealandfrom the late nineteenth century on. These wereeventually discarded as being inconvenient to wear when in vehicles or providing insufficientprotection from the sun when on foot patrol. TheNew Zealand Policeretained a white versionuntil the 1990s.Toronto Police Serviceretains the white helmet used by Toronto Police Chief'sCeremonial Unit. TheRoyal Newfoundland Constabularycurrently uses the helmet for someofficers (usually senior) and for special events.

Production[edit]

In modern production, hat makers take approximately 30 minutes to complete a single custodianhelmet,

[4]all of which are made by only four companies: Hobson and Sons (London) Ltd;

Christys, of Stockport; Compton Webb (C.W. Headdress Limited), of Oxfordshire; and HelmetsLimited, of Wheathampstead.

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White Colonial custodian helmet worn by Metro Toronto Police mounted officer, now used by members of

Toronto Police Chief's Ceremonial Unit
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The initial process begins with the making of the helmet shell using avacuum formingmachineand a metalmould.A sheet of black fortified plastic is heated and then lowered over the mould,where a vacuum pulls the plastic into shape over the mould. Once hardened instantly, a rubbermallet is used to release the plastic from the mould so that the excess plastic around brim of thehelmet can be trimmed with abandsawand sanded. The helmet's fabric covers are made outofwater-repellentwoolthat are cut in halves andstitchedtogether to give the helmet a distinctive

centred, front-to-backseam.Moving down the line of production, glue is applied to both theinside of the fabric cover and the outside surface of the helmet shell, the fabric cover is thensteamed and stretched tightly over the shell to preventbuckling.A wooden tool is carefully usedto smooth away any air bubbles as well as to ensure the fabric cover is in full contact with thehelmet shell; excess fabric is cut away.

Now halfway through production, the helmet is left to dry for several minutes. Once it is dry, blackplasticpipingis sewn around the brim of the helmet to reinforce it and give it a neater edge. Forrosetop and ball helmet styles, the metal fastening prongs or screws of thechromefixtures aredipped in chalk to mark their positions on thecrownof the helmet; holes are then drilled and thefixture is secured. For comb-style helmets, the crest, which has vent holes incorporated into thedesign, is also fixed by prongs or simply glued into place at the top end of the comb. For allhelmet styles, two vent holes arepunchedon both sides of the helmet and fitted with blackmetalgrommets,making a total of four vent holes.

The adjustable head harness is made out of strips of fabric tape and foam stitched onto aplasticheadband;this is then inverted so that a modern-patternchin-strapassembly andtraditional leather chin-strip can be stitched on as well. The harness assembly is lowered into thehelmet and secured with an industrialstapler.Depending on the helmet style, a broad plasticband[1],narrow black metal band[2],narrow chrome metal band[3],or broad chrome metalband[4]

[1]is wrapped around the helmet and pinned down, concealing thestaples.For additional

protection, a sponge liner is tucked in to the helmet.

Near the end of production, a hole is drilled on the front end of the helmet and an appropriatepolice helmet plate is screwed on. The helmet then issized,cleaned, and inspected. At last, thehelmet islabelledand given a good brush to bring up thepile.It is then now finally ready to be

shipped on to an awaiting police force.

Use outside the Commonwealth[edit]

SomeItalian municipal policeforces use a white custodian helmet, particularly when directingtraffic.

Florence (Italy) municipal police officer wearing white crest-style custodian helmet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_forminghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_forminghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_forminghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mold_(manufacturing)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mold_(manufacturing)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mold_(manufacturing)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandsawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandsawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandsawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_resistanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_resistanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stitch_(textile_arts)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stitch_(textile_arts)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stitch_(textile_arts)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seam_(sewing)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seam_(sewing)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seam_(sewing)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucklinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucklinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucklinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piping_(sewing)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piping_(sewing)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piping_(sewing)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrome_platinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrome_platinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrome_platinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hat#Hat_designhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hat#Hat_designhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hat#Hat_designhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch_(tool)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch_(tool)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch_(tool)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grommethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grommethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grommethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headbandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headbandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headbandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staplerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staplerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staplerhttp://www.constabulary.com/faqs/fig8.jpghttp://www.constabulary.com/faqs/fig8.jpghttp://www.constabulary.com/faqs/fig8.jpghttp://www.constabulary.com/faqs/fig9.jpghttp://www.constabulary.com/faqs/fig9.jpghttp://www.constabulary.com/faqs/fig9.jpghttp://www.constabulary.com/faqs/fig10.jpghttp://www.constabulary.com/faqs/fig10.jpghttp://www.constabulary.com/faqs/fig10.jpghttp://www.constabulary.com/faqs/fig11.jpghttp://www.constabulary.com/faqs/fig11.jpghttp://www.constabulary.com/faqs/fig11.jpghttp://www.constabulary.com/faqs/fig11.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staple_(fastener)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staple_(fastener)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hat_size#Hat_sizehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hat_size#Hat_sizehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hat_size#Hat_sizehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pile_(textile)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pile_(textile)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pile_(textile)http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Custodian_helmet&action=edit&section=4http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Custodian_helmet&action=edit&section=4http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Custodian_helmet&action=edit&section=4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipal_police_(Italy)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipal_police_(Italy)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipal_police_(Italy)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Firenze_Polizia_Municipale.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Firenze_Polizia_Municipale.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Firenze_Polizia_Municipale.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Firenze_Polizia_Municipale.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipal_police_(Italy)http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Custodian_helmet&action=edit&section=4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pile_(textile)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hat_size#Hat_sizehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staple_(fastener)http://www.constabulary.com/faqs/fig11.jpghttp://www.constabulary.com/faqs/fig11.jpghttp://www.constabulary.com/faqs/fig10.jpghttp://www.constabulary.com/faqs/fig9.jpghttp://www.constabulary.com/faqs/fig8.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staplerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headbandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grommethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch_(tool)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hat#Hat_designhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrome_platinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piping_(sewing)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucklinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seam_(sewing)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stitch_(textile_arts)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_resistanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandsawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mold_(manufacturing)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_forming


6/6

The MonegasqueCarabiniersCompany use a white custodian helmet in summer (and a blue inwinter).

Monegasque Prince's Carabinier

Until the mid-20th century, custodian helmets were in use with the municipal police forces ofseveral Dutch cities, most notablyThe Hague.

[5][6]

Some early uniforms of thePennsylvania State Policeincorporated a cloth covered helmet,manufactured in England.

Several photographs exist that show a funeral procession for a fallen officer (John (Jack) L.

Briscoe) in Stockton, California. Briscoe was killed in the line of duty of 5 February 1917.

[7]

Someof the line officers in the procession wore a modified custodian helmet with a leather band justabove the rim and a silver badge on the front.

TheNew York Police Departmentwore a helmet, grey for summer and blue for winter from 1880-1912, as didseveral other American police forces.The helmet features in theKeystoneKopsfilms.

Use outside of public safety[edit]

The Banana Splitswere depicted wearing shiny red custodian helmets with a yellow band andcrest.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compagnie_des_Carabiniers_du_Princehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compagnie_des_Carabiniers_du_Princehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compagnie_des_Carabiniers_du_Princehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Haguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Haguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custodian_helmet#cite_note-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custodian_helmet#cite_note-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custodian_helmet#cite_note-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_State_Policehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_State_Policehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_State_Policehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custodian_helmet#cite_note-7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custodian_helmet#cite_note-7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custodian_helmet#cite_note-7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Police_Departmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Police_Departmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Police_Departmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_uniforms_of_the_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_uniforms_of_the_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_uniforms_of_the_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystone_Kopshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystone_Kopshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystone_Kopshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystone_Kopshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Custodian_helmet&action=edit&section=5http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Custodian_helmet&action=edit&section=5http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Custodian_helmet&action=edit&section=5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Banana_Splitshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Banana_Splitshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Guard_Prince's_palace_Monaco.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Guard_Prince's_palace_Monaco.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Guard_Prince's_palace_Monaco.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Guard_Prince's_palace_Monaco.JPGhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Banana_Splitshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Custodian_helmet&action=edit&section=5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystone_Kopshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystone_Kopshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_uniforms_of_the_United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Police_Departmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custodian_helmet#cite_note-7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_State_Policehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custodian_helmet#cite_note-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Custodian_helmet#cite_note-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Haguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compagnie_des_Carabiniers_du_Prince

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