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Post by snacky on Feb 13, 2015 8:07:37 GMT
Not an antique, but definitely of the style, I bought a really neat French-style pith-helmet today. Got it cheap at the local army-surplus store in town. Identical to this in style, but slightly darker. Also on offer were the American-style... ...which I decided was too big and bulky for lil' ol' me. There was also the British style... = ...far too 'military' for my liking. And finally the Vietnamese style:  I didn't like the colour or style of these, so I discounted them entirely, and bought a French-style. In the old days, those belts stretched across the brims were used as chin-straps, but these days they're mostly there for ornamental reasons. I like the Vietnamese one! It's green and has a pin! |
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Post by shangas on Feb 13, 2015 8:42:35 GMT
The viet-ones were worn by the North Vietnamese Army during the Second Indochinese War.
Pith-helmets are made of either pith, or cork. They're designed for use in hot and tropical locales (like Africa, Middle East, and Asia).
The classic pith-helmet is an all-weather hat. It's sloped so that rain falls away from the face.
It's domed to give air-circulation up the top and prevent sweat.
It's vented to give extra air-criculation and keep the head cool.
And it's made of cork and pith (one or the other, depending on who made it) so that it retains water.
Pith-helmets are designed to be worn in the rain. When it rains, the water is absorbed into the material and into the pith and cork underneath. Then as the weather heats up, the water evaporates, cooling down the wearer.
In fact with a proper pith-helmet, you're supposed to be able to soak it overnight in water. Then wear it the next day and it'll keep you cool (or at least until all the water evaporates. Then you just dunk on more water).
That's why I bought it. Multipurpose, classic and cool.
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Post by lizmc on Feb 13, 2015 9:15:09 GMT
I remember as a child, playing with a pith helmet that my father had been issued when he was stationed in North Africa with the RAF (seconded from the RCAF). From my memories, I think it was more the French style. I remember asking him why it was called a pith helmet and he told me you could use it if you had to pith.....
(Wouldn't the British style one be referred to as a Solar Topee, or were the 2 terms synonymous?)
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Post by shangas on Feb 13, 2015 9:21:03 GMT
They're called many things. Solar-topee, sun-helmet, etc, etc, etc.
The correct term is 'pith helmet', because that's what they were traditionally made of (although they can also be made of cork).
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Post by lizmc on Feb 13, 2015 17:36:18 GMT
Thanks, Shangas. The North West Mounted Police (which was renamed the RCMP)originally wore the British style ones....
Cheers
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Post by Hodge on Feb 13, 2015 18:29:29 GMT
Not an antique, but definitely of the style, I bought a really neat French-style pith-helmet today. Got it cheap at the local army-surplus store in town. Identical to this in style, but slightly darker. Also on offer were the American-style... ...which I decided was too big and bulky for lil' ol' me. There was also the British style... = ...far too 'military' for my liking. And finally the Vietnamese style: I didn't like the colour or style of these, so I discounted them entirely, and bought a French-style. In the old days, those belts stretched across the brims were used as chin-straps, but these days they're mostly there for ornamental reasons. I like the Vietnamese one! It's green and has a pin! I have to say I like the American one the best. |
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Post by shangas on Feb 13, 2015 23:11:48 GMT
And here is the actual pith helmet I bought:  Colonial French style, in dark khaki. |
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Post by snacky on Feb 14, 2015 2:48:29 GMT
And here is the actual pith helmet I bought: Colonial French style, in dark khaki. You would rule at cosplay! |
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Post by shangas on Feb 14, 2015 3:05:14 GMT
LOL. I'm so flattered  |
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Post by snacky on Feb 14, 2015 6:01:40 GMT
LOL. I'm so flattered Haha, I noted you understand Power of the Vest in your History magazine editor pic, too! Very clever disguise as an erudite history buff! |
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Post by shangas on Feb 14, 2015 6:50:15 GMT
hahaha, Thank you  |
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Post by shangas on Feb 14, 2015 11:12:37 GMT
Pith helmets were popular in hot climates - Africa, the Middle East, India, Vietnam, Malaya, Singapore and Australia, because they were capable of retaining water, which kept the head cool during the day. Tomorrow is almost 40'c (about 100'F), and I'm going out for most of the day. I have decided to put this age-old assertion to the test. One bucket of cold water, filled to the brim:  One pith-helmet. Inverted and placed inside the bucket. The crown is flooded with extra water to weigh it down and aid in absorption.  Let's see what tomorrow morning brings. |
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Post by snacky on Feb 14, 2015 18:47:05 GMT
Pith helmets were popular in hot climates - Africa, the Middle East, India, Vietnam, Malaya, Singapore and Australia, because they were capable of retaining water, which kept the head cool during the day. Tomorrow is almost 40'c (about 100'F), and I'm going out for most of the day. I have decided to put this age-old assertion to the test. One bucket of cold water, filled to the brim: One pith-helmet. Inverted and placed inside the bucket. The crown is flooded with extra water to weigh it down and aid in absorption. Let's see what tomorrow morning brings. Aw, hope that doesn't ruin your new pith helmet with water stains! At first glance, I thought you were putting the pith helmets to a different sort of test, the traditional joking use of a pith helmet for "pithing" in! Those used to be sold in catalogs when I was young. (For young children on long car trips). |
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Post by shangas on Feb 14, 2015 20:47:53 GMT
Oh jeez.
They're called pith helmets because they're made of pith. That's all.
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Post by snacky on Feb 14, 2015 22:38:58 GMT
Oh jeez. They're called pith helmets because they're made of pith. That's all. I'm the first to admit Americans are crass and have a lame sense of humor. |
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