Early-WWII General Fibre Co. "Hawley" M1 Helmet Liner (2nd Pattern Suspension)
This original WWII helmet liner is quite rare in that it is not produced by Hawley, but rather its subcontractor, General Fibre Co., as evident by the 'G' ink stamp in the liner's interior dome. This manufacturer produced a total of 120,000 helmet liners during the war, with this variation being its least common. It has non-painted steel A-washers and a second pattern khaki suspension, all the while retaining the first pattern stationary leather liner strap. These transitional features date the liner's production to mid-1942. The khaki suspension is strong and intact. It comes complete with its original Hickok Mfg. Co. headband and a recently installed Gem-Dandy Inc. neckband. Like the liner itself, both accessories date to 1942. This liner would display quite nicely when paired with a 1942 manufactured fixed loop helmet shell.