VINTAGE FDNY WAR YEAR LIDS

[68jk09]

For Darth Vader helmets see reply # 112 on...... http://nycfire.net/forums/index.php/topic,57037.105.html

 

[JohnnyGage]

For Darth Vader helmets see reply # 112 on......  http://nycfire.net/forums/index.php/topic,57037.105.html

Photo from JK collection

 

[JohnnyGage]

IS THIS NOT THE COOLEST TIN LID!






LID FROM PHOTO UNIT...

 

[JohnnyGage]

A couple of banged up FDNY vintage helmets:






CAPTAIN LIDS AND FRONTPIECES:

 

[Lebby]

A couple of banged up FDNY vintage helmets:






CAPTAIN LIDS AND FRONTPIECES:

Interesting, JohnnyGage can you shed light onto those Newark fronts? Especially since of those companies have disbanded in the 1970 and I don't believe Ladder 13 was ever established (But, I could certainly be wrong)

 

[JohnnyGage]

Sorry Lebby wish I could, these photos pop up on different sites, most with no explanation.

 

[soda-acid]

Most, if not all of the Newark lids pictured are copies. And no Newark never had a Ladder (or Truck) 13.

 

[JohnnyGage]

A couple of pencil drawings:





Here are vintage CD lids;


From Deadtroit, I mean Detroit...


San Diego


NYC






OTHER WWII STYLE LIDS:






(FROM HONOLULU)




WHAT THE HECK, REALLY?

 

[manhattan]

Absolutely right, Willy - they do talk to ya'  and I just wish I could hear their stories more clearly! Can ya' just imagine!!!

 

[JohnnyGage]

I remember when the new FDNY Probies were wearing black, a kind of round plastic helmets. I think they were called: "Metro's".

As I remember, they were used on a trial basis by a few companies in the FDNY. I think one company might have been Ladder 19 (?) in the Bronx.

Here in Connecticut I know a few places that used them too. Most didn't last too long here either. The guys didn't speak too favorable of them.

I would visit "The Rock" and watch the group of Probies training and wearing those helmets. Each Probie would have their last name written on a piece of wide masking tape put on their helmet.

It might have been sometime in the mid to late 80s when the FDNY had tried out those Lids.

Willy,
Went back to reply #115 for what I think you're looking for

 

[JohnnyGage]

 

[nfd2004]

Take the photo I quoted above that you had posted of an FDNY Capt of Ladder 22. It's seen a few fires in it's day. It could write a book of it's own.

Maybe in its book it could even mention how it remembers seeing that crazy guy from Connecticut, running around on Harlem's West side of Manhattan, chasing a bunch of guys with helmets just like me. Wondering what the hell is this guy doing down here.

 

[JohnnyGage]

VINTAGE HIGH EAGLE HELMETS:

 

[JohnnyGage]

SAY WHAT?






NUMBER NOT REQUIRED:









ONE FOR WILLY:



FOR MY NEWARK FANS:





CLIFTON, NJ:



UNION, NJ:



SOME TIN LIDS:

 

[nfd2004]

ONE FOR WILLY:



FOR MY NEWARK FANS:





CLIFTON, NJ:



UNION, NJ:

Johnny, I certainly appreciate your efforts and thoughts in presenting that (Norwich) helmet for the viewing audience. But I must take this opportunity to tell my story. I understand, the (Norwich) helmet you presented to us has it's own stories to tell. But I was always more into the helmets that kind of looked like those from Jersey (Newark, Clifton and Union).

I was once forced to wear something like that helmet you posted here. But "Together we put up such a fuss about it", that whatever ones we DID have, we convinced the upper management level of the department to get rid of them. I guess they ended up "donating" them to other departments. Members of the department presented facts on why we should go back to our other helmets. I think, including the reason the FDNY was getting rid of them (Plastic Dart Vaders). After a year or so, "The Norwich Pro Leather Forever Organization" successfully WON the Battle. Hence came the very popular "Leather Forever" Tee shirts, which I proudly wore. Those tee shirts had a big picture of a leather helmet and the words "Leather Forever" on it.

Let me also add a TRUE Story along with this.

Shortly after going back to those LEATHER HELMETS, we had a job in a 2 1/2 story frame. In coming out of the second floor window, I slipped getting onto the ladder and came crashing down into an alleyway separating the other exposure. In that alleyway was about a three foot concrete wall separating the property. wearing that Leather Helmet, the back of my head hit that wall.

The only injury was a dislocated shoulder. BUT it sure might have been much worse if wearing one of those Dart Vaders only a few months earlier. 

 

[jbendick]

    Ask any fireman (firefighter) what is their most prized possession. .Most would say their helmet. Prior to all the new regulations, their helmet would be used throughout their career.
  I got my first helmet at proby school. Carnes would come out to the rock with a special machine that actually measured the circumference of your head. The inner crown was to come at a later time.
  The helmet represented who you are. It also may represent the department and company you are with. Their rank and possible badge number are on the helmet. Some would try to change the shape of the brim to look salty. The golden rule is don?t mess with a guy?s helmet.
  So if ones helmet is lost or stolen it can be devastating and in some cases it can be costly. For many of us hired before the dept. supplied the uniform and personal protective equipment, we were responsible for our own outfits.  During my career I had both things happen to me.
  Back in the late 70?s and early 80?s , the job (FDNY) was suffering from a shortage of school trained chauffeurs. Chauffeurs, in the FDNY, are not a promotion and are picked by the company commander. Chauffeurs receive compensation only for the tour that they drive. To overcome the problem, they started a program where a company commander was to have members trained on company level.
  I became one of those trained members. One day I was scheduled to drive. After relieving the chauffeur, I put my gear in the rear compartment on the driver side. Unknown to me I failed to secure the compartment door. During one of the runs going up 183St my helmet must have fallen out of the compartment. Later in the day a gentlemen entered quarters, to my surprise, and returned my helmet. God must have been on my side.
  On one night tour we were first due at an all hands or better. The fire was on the top floor of a building on 184th St. and Valentine Ave. At the time we had a Ft-2 tip on the 1st line. While operating the line we experienced water problems. To compound the situation the fire was entering the cockloft. We took the tip off and opened the nozzle part way and was able to extinguish fire before it got any headway. When we got back to the rig, we found out that a large amount of glass enter the pump because of a broken inlet screen. This enabled the small bits to work its way to the FT-2 tip. Prior to that I was in Sq.2 where we experienced this often at least once a week. I would break down the tip and clean it out. Eventually, most companies removed the tip from the 1st line.
  While taking up, I placed my helmet on the jump seat. At the time, we were using a spare with open jump seats. As we finished packing the bed, I got one of those eerie feelings and went immediately to check my gear. One look and I knew my helmet was gone.  Being it was a warm night the streets were full of people.  After asking several people, one teenager said no big deal the city will replace it. I explained that I had to pay to replace it myself. Fortunately a nice young lady,  to my amazement, showed up with it. Raising 5 kids money was tight in those days. Again thank you Lord.
  Having worked in the South and West Bronx most of my career during the hay days when ? The Bronx was burning?, I dealt with a lot of low life?s. But I met more good people. I would see them at six in the morning going to work and coming home at six at night. These people are caught in a bubble and no matter how hard they worked they can?t get out. They are forced to live next to those undesirables. We would go into a beautiful apt. and next door would be a roach infested sh-t house. I learned to judge an individual for who they are and not where they live.   

 

[JohnnyGage]

THIS UNIQUE LID, CIRCA 1840 IS MADE FROM REINFORCED CARDBOARD:


LIDS FROM INDUSTRIES, AIRPORTS, MISC:























EMS LIDS:

 

[JohnnyGage]

A COUPLE OF NEWARK FD ITEMS, BELL AND SIREN CLUB:





LEATHER FOREVER LIDS:

 

[JohnnyGage]

Couple of L 112 lids:


Lt. TK


JohnnyGage


☆☆☆  SEND ME A PHOTO OF YOUR LID  !  ☆☆☆

 

[nfd2004]

Dan, I'm sending you a couple of pictures of Lids back from my younger days if you want to post them. It includes a brief story about one of them.

It proved itself quite well when I needed it.