Here is one item I truly never expected to find. This is an Ellwood & Sons "Roman Air Tube" helmet, which was produced just circa the Indian Mutiny. This was the original pattern of British military sun helmet. These were worn in Indian Mutiny, and then in the Taiping Rebellion in China - where the Chinese took to calling the British "Hats" because of the large sun helmets.

 

 

 

Very interesting, had never heard let alone seen one before.

Like Irish, I never saw one of these before. Always learning, always the student.

Saw an article in military trader once where one of these was depicted. Interesting helmet, functional, but dare I say pretty unattractive. Thanks for sharing, must be rare.