A SUPERB & VERY RARE GREAT WAR "TANK SPLINTER MASK"
In wonderful condition. All fully correct & totally original with the all important W /| D stamp to the khaki tie tapes.
This item is one of the most fabled and most highly sought after military objects from the Great War, with few collections containing a decent example.
[A GREAT WAR TANK] We Brits (along with 95% of most of the other world class pivotal inventions developed since 1795 ) also invented the tank, so everything about the hands on technology and the practical usage was a daily learning experience.
When our tanks first went into action in the Great War it was soon realised that there was real danger "inside" the tank from the effects of bullet, shrapnel & artillery hits on the "outside' of the tank. When a round hit the outside of the tank it may not have penetrated the armour but it still produced a shock wave effect which had a splintering effect on the inside walls of the vehicle.
Small pieces of fragmented metal and even sharp paint flakes would fly off at terrifying speed causing serious injuries to the eyes and faces of the crewmen.
These steel & chainmail masks which were worn in conjunction with the normal steel Tommy helmet were the best wearable answer that could be designed to protect the crew inside the tank. In pure historical terms this was probably the latest & last example of usage of what in reality was medieval chain mail which had been the staple protection of troops for the many many hundreds of years since the Middle Ages.
Most of these masks, which were only made in comparatively small numbers over 100 years ago have not survived, and the small number which have come down to us normally arrive in poor, rusty & damaged condition, and are even found minus the chains, minus the leather face covers & tapes, with only the slatted metal face mask having survived.
This is a truly iconic item .....a seriously ONE ONLY piece.
In superlative condition, you will probably never see a better example than this one......so.....First Come First Served !
SOLD
[A GREAT WAR TANK] We Brits (along with 95% of most of the other world class pivotal inventions developed since 1795 ) also invented the tank, so everything about the hands on technology and the practical usage was a daily learning experience.
When our tanks first went into action in the Great War it was soon realised that there was real danger "inside" the tank from the effects of bullet, shrapnel & artillery hits on the "outside' of the tank. When a round hit the outside of the tank it may not have penetrated the armour but it still produced a shock wave effect which had a splintering effect on the inside walls of the vehicle.
These steel & chainmail masks which were worn in conjunction with the normal steel Tommy helmet were the best wearable answer that could be designed to protect the crew inside the tank. In pure historical terms this was probably the latest & last example of usage of what in reality was medieval chain mail which had been the staple protection of troops for the many many hundreds of years since the Middle Ages.
Most of these masks, which were only made in comparatively small numbers over 100 years ago have not survived, and the small number which have come down to us normally arrive in poor, rusty & damaged condition, and are even found minus the chains, minus the leather face covers & tapes, with only the slatted metal face mask having survived.