| Archive for The Royal Marines Band Service On-line Community Bringing the serving and ex serving communities together |
| DanielLockhart |
Pith HelmetGreetings all,I finally received a pith helmet from Gold Wire Badge the other day and was supprised to see it was made of resin and not pith. Anyone know when it was changed? It seems heavier that another pith helmet I have (more like the 24th Reg. style which is not as large brim) and appears that it would be a bit more warm during the summer months. 
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| lesbryan |
Just make sure its still got its ball|.you never know   
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| General Melchett |
Daniel,
Firstly, without wanting to patronise - You do know the difference between the "Pith" helmet and the Wolseley Pattern Helmet? The "Pith" is still in use by some ARMY Regts to this day - NOT the RM. "Pith Helmet" is a colloquialism employed by RM's to describe their Helmet. The "Wolseley Pattern Helmet" was adopted after the merging of the RMA and RMLI in 1923, where they adopted the headgear of the RMA - viz, the "Pith" Helmet, this lasted until the late (I have no date) 20's early 30's where it was replaced by the "Wolseley Pattern" The "Wolsey Pattern was originally made from pith, but has mainly been made from cork and more recently synthetics (since the late 80's). However, there are a new batch of Helmets just out that are returning to an older "style" and manufacture. Hope this helps, I cannot find a date for the change from pith to Wolsey - anyone? |
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| DanielLockhart |
I did not know the difference, thank you for the clarification. I will continue my research and hopefully I will be able to find a photo of grandpa in his parade dress. I'm suspecting that he would have been wearing a true pith as he was in during the 1920's. Either way I have both the styles, the ball (I'm assuming the ball has not changed", and the chin strap.
Daniel |
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| MrJpig |
Ask AA !! 
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| RAB |
I'm not sure which "AA" ANDY means here....The Automobile Association would be better referred to in connection with Ball Joints.... Alcoholics Anonymous could probably only help you with your addiction to ball-tops, and if, as I suspect you're referring to the Aardvark, well, what's the point?? You'll get no sense out of him today as he settles down in his drunken stupor to watch his rugby team take a thrashing from 15 screaming Jocks........
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| MrJpig |
:smt046 COME ON YOU........YOU.......ARGH!!!!! 
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| Aaron Aardvark |
Cobblers..... you tartan balled old soak....hic 
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| RAB |
[quote="Aaron Aardvark
Cobblers..... you tartan balled old soak....hic [/quote]
Now that's just about the kindest thing you've ever said to me... 
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| General Melchett |
Daniel,
The original "pith" would not have been surmounted by a ball top, merely a brass rounded plate and spike. The same as is used by the ARMY today. http://www.army.mod.uk/bands/queen_s_minden_band/Downloads.htm Will give you an idea of a pith helmet and an idea of a red jacket RMLI uniform circa 1920. If you trawl this site you will find numerous references / pictures of to-days RM. |
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| Co-admin |
Look at the top of this page for the modern pith pot! |
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| Aaron Aardvark |
...and in times of emergency they are great for throwing up in or having a whizz in. Now they are synthetic, they are waterproof.
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| RAB |
Serious question (for once)...How are they cleaned now???? I ws in the good old emulsion days.... |
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| Co-admin |
Matt white paint, 50% paint-50% water... applied with a sponge | ||||
| Aaron Aardvark |
should get that paint that goes on pink then turns white. So you dont miss a bit wahhhhhhh | ||||
| Aaron Aardvark |
....of course....cleaning the helmet was the easy bit. It was the knob polishing that was hard.
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| RAB |
 :smt046
Well there's nooooooo answer to that....or is there????
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| lesbryan |
IF THEY HAD THERE KNOBS TO POLISH |
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| Aaron Aardvark |
roflmao...good point Les. They had to hold on to their knobs really tight when I was about. Nothing worse than a pinched knob
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| MrJpig |
OR YELLOW LIKE ABOVE
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| Co-admin |
That'll be the yellow light mate! Yellow, red, green, blue... like a bleeding rainbow band! | ||||
| MrJpig |
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| Co-admin |
I did think Karl went slightly over the top with his 'Psychedelic opium trip on acid with undertones of Sidney and his 70's pimp jacket' lighting effect!
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| MrJpig |
:smt046   NICE ONE DELI !!
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| Aaron Aardvark |
wahhhhhhhhh.........
I am at a loss for words for once.
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| MrJpig |
Here... have this one I`ve finished with it..... PNEUMONOULTRAMICROSCOPICSILICOVOLCANOCONIOSIS |
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| Aaron Aardvark |
isnt that another name for volcanic glass??
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| bootybandy |
It is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as "a factitious word alleged to mean 'a lung disease caused by the inhalation of very fine silica dust' but occurring chiefly as an instance of a very long word."
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| Co-admin |
Aaron, was it you polishing or stealing or Albert replacing or Albert following your lead? I think we need to know!
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| Aaron Aardvark |
ahhhhhhhh...that's my boy 
I see the training has paid off. Although on stage in front of everyone wasn't in the Ball Top Acquisition Manual. Silly boy 
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| bootybandy |
This Snipers tent is getting awfully crowded. Keep those claws to yourself Aaron, and Deli, I don't want my Ar€e polished. :smt046 | ||||
| FFoglamp |
I think I had a yellow pot of paint by mistake for my pith pot ?
Someone in Junior Band panicked once when he dropped his helmet just before a beat retreat, and got a long black line across it. No paint, No sponge, No sink, No water. A good mate came to the rescue with some of that stuff you did white plimsolls with, little bottle of white stuff with sponge on a stick. Thankfully it didn't rain !!!! What is that stuff called, that does pussers white plimsolls, as they were ? |
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| Co-admin |
Blanco or tennis shoe whitener. The plimsoles were crap and god knows what damage they caused to the heel and ball of the foot. The youngsters get trainers from day one now 
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| FFoglamp |
Cheers Deli. Yes, how could I live without Blanco. No good for helmets though. Nor was my yellow paint, or was that just the crusty bits in the pot. I know I should have invested in a new pot of emulsion.
Anyway, to all left reading this........night night 
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| lesbryan |
I some times used to think what you used for the pith helmets .When all that seemed to be around when we did gaurds and the like was the old white blanco | ||||
| lesbryan |
Pussers plimsolls did my feet no good Nor did the old dreaded pussers sandels I remember marching from rooke to the ship in drydock in brand new ones junior first draft first ship feet full of plasters 
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| MrJpig |
At one particularly busy Police Station in the South of England, when custodies had their footwear seized they were given Pusser type white plimsolls so they had shoes to walk home in.
On release they would be asked what type of trainer would Sir/Madam like to replace the ones being used for forensic. If they answered NIKE ...a tick was drawn on the shoe with a black marker pen...ADIDAS....3 black lines etc......PRICELESS!!!  
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| townsergeant |
I hit upon a 'good' idea in Malta to 'blanco' my White Helmet. Needless to say, it pi$$ed down with rain at the evening B/R! 
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| MrJpig |
If you get fed up with painting you TITFER you could always make one of these:-
Courtesy of Rodney Peppe - Toys and models 
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| lesbryan |
That would mean you would be living in a  PITHOUSE A bit smelly and damp i would think :
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| bootybandy |
On some of the Schools tours that Bands have been on Les, a Pithouse is a step up from some of the Farmyards we've stayed in...
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| lesbryan |
I know i have stayed in some P%^S awful places myself on my journies through life
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| EricAckroyd |
I like the cute little umbrella on the pith helmet! Why did'nt I think of that when I was serving ?? Rain water was always getting into mine !!
Andy.....have yourself a design award. |