Original British WWI Extremely Scarce Early 1915 PH Helmet Gas Mask Hood with Markings and Valve by H. Lottery & Co.

Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. The P helmet, PH helmet and PHG helmet were early types of gas mask issued by the British Army in the First World War, to protect troops against chlorine, phosgene and tear gases. Rather than having a separate filter for removing the toxic chemicals, they consisted of a gas-permeable hood worn over the head which was treated with chemicals. 

This is an extraordinarily scarce example of one of the earliest gas masks of the First World War, a PH Helmet. The front of the soft helmet is faintly stamped:

PH 27
H. LOTERY CO.

The same maker’s marking can be found clearly stamped on the interior of the helmet. We did a bit of digging into the company, H. Lotery & Co., which operated out of Whitechapel during the war. We found several newspaper articles for workers needed by the company throughout the war, so it is clear they were operating at higher quantities for the war efforts. It would make sense that they were contracted to manufacture the material for PH Helmets.

The two metal eyepieces show extremely heavy oxidation which has bled into the cloth to the sides, which is how the helmet was instructed to have been folded, so this example follows the known guidelines for these. One of the eyepieces retains its glass piece entirely, while the other only retains a fragment, and due to the heavy oxidation, the right eyepiece is now loose to the cloth. 

The cloth behind the left eyepiece has some material loss from the oxidation. The valve is mostly retained on the exterior but what remains now is extremely stiff and fragile. There is a small rubber piece that was inside the mask which may have been part of the interior mouthpiece, but it is now entirely detached.

The helmet when laid out measures 18 x 23 ½”, and with some work, this helmet could display well on a mannequin head. Please be extremely cautious due to the looseness of the right eyepiece. This set could use some TLC for proper display and preservation.

An outstanding example of what is truly one of the rarest WWI gas masks. This is the first example of a PH helmet we have ever offered, so don’t miss out! Comes ready to display.