Original U.S. WWII Navy USN MK2 Talker Flak Helmet with Chin Strap & LIFE Magazine Article about the Making of the Talker Helmet

Original Item: Only One Available. This is among one of the best complete examples of a MkII that we have ever offered. This helmet is great condition and has moderate amounts of paint flaking and around the rim and moderate surface rust. There is some verdigris present around the brass hooks on the leather, which was used as bales for the chinstrap. The chinstrap is in fantastic slightly used condition. This example comes with a copy of LIFE Magazine from August 10th, 1942 containing an in-depth article about the design and manufacture of the Talker helmet!

These helmets have become much harder to find lately, especially genuine WW2 examples with a complete undamaged liner intact chin strap.

The MkII "Talker" helmet was developed in 1942 for naval personnel, allowing communications headgear to be easily worn under the helmet. It was a very large and somewhat ungainly helmet to wear though it did serve its purpose very well. It was designed to accommodate wearing headphones for Radiomen or anyone using shipboard sound-powered phones.

The Mk-2 was manufactured by the McCord Radiator Company in Detroit Michigan; the "Arsenal of Democracy. Its composition is non-magnetic Hadfield manganese steel. In addition to accommodating headphones, it also provided a great deal of protection to the wearer. The bowl is so wide it even provided some coverage to the shoulders of the sailor who was underneath it. Painted sea blue, the Mk II, like the Mk I, has cork applied with the paint to provide a textured, non-reflective surface. Very faintly marked on the inside rim USN and MK-2.

The new helmet was to protect "exposed deck personnel" and accommodate a telephone headset; furthermore, it had to be usable while wearing a gas mask and binoculars. Designated "USN MK-2", was at the time the largest helmet ever used in US service.

This is a complete, great condition helmet that comes ready for display!