AUTHENTIC Genuine Siebe Gorman 6 Bolt Admiralty Pattern Diving Helmet.

Description

This is the real deal. Not one of those cheap, fake reproduction helmets.
Famous Siebe Gorman 6 Bolt Admiralty Pattern Diving Helmet In 1840, August Siebe invented the deep sea diving helmet as we know it today.
This 6 Bolt Royal Navy Admiralty Pattern No 14650, is an excellent example.
SERIAL NUMBER: 14650
DATE OF MANUFACTURE: Late 1930s to Early 1940s (WWII)
WEIGHT: 46.5 lbs
DIMENSIONS: 20 3/4“ H x 16“ W X 16“ D
BRIEF GENERAL HISTORY. Augustus Siebe the German-born founder of the firm which bears his name (1788-1872) is considered "the father of diving." Siebe's 'closed' diving helmet, first produced in 1840, allowed divers to dive safely to greater depths than ever before. Attached to a rubber suit, it became the 'Standard Dress' that revolutionized diving and made the underwater worker an essential part of both salvage operations and civil engineering. Many of the great building projects of the Victorian era - bridges, tunnels and lighthouses still in use today - could not have been built without divers.Siebe's design was so successful that it remained in use, essentially unchanged, until 1975. However, the Royal Navy required one of their own design, and the British Admiralty requested a helmet made to their specifications which used heavier materials in 1938. This was the Royal Navy six bolt helmet, as seen in this offering. The rest of the "Jake" was standard commercial equipment.
THIS PARTICULAR HELMET. (See also photos for selling history, descriptions and my 2011 ,100 purchase price.)  Up for auction is an increasingly rare and highly collectible Siebe Gorman six bolt three light British Admiralty Pattern diving helmet in truly excellent condition.
The six bolt Admiralty Pattern helmets are really getting tough to find these days in even fair to good condition and this helmet rates excellent. More and more of the Siebe Gorman helmets you see on the market today are heavily used and dented. This helmet is used but most certainly not abused.
This is a well documented helmet having appeared in Historical Diver Magazine (see photo).
The standard configuration for this model utilized oval windows on the side, and a round threaded window on the front. The 6 bolt pattern only requires 2 brails rather than the four found on 12 bolt helmets. (The joke, divers couldn't count above 5.) The back of the bonnet features the original air & communications fittings. When looking at vintage photos of English military hardhat divers, this very model is most likely what you will find being utilized. The helmet is perfect for display in your home or office. The copper body and brass hardware exhibit a wonderful patina. The helmet is complete with all its glass (no cracks), 6 wing nuts, 2 brails, exhaust valve, air fitting, communications fitting, spitcock valve, dumbbell safety latch, window guards, neck ring gasket, original reproducer (speaker) and internal air vents. The serial number is 14650 which dates the helmet to the late 1930's to early or mid 1940's. The helmet, breastplate and screw in face plate are ALL matching numbers 14650. The bonnet is slightly askew due to an aged gasket. There are only a few minor dents to the bonnet which could easily be removed if the purchaser so desires but in my opinion, the dents are part of the history of the helmet.
I've had the pleasure of having this helmet in my collection for over a decade. It's time to find it a new home.
This helmet exhibits a classic English look and beauty. Hints of light use are evident in the copper bonnet. Such a classic design and model do not turn up often, especially in the American market. This helmet makes for an excellent example to sit next to a US Navy Mark V to show the peak of copper/brass helmet design by both nations' militaries.
Sold for display only. The metal 0 display stand shown in the photos is included.
Q & A
1. Q. Are there serial numbers on the brails?
A. Here's a quote: "Siebe Gorman would stamp serial numbers into inside neck ring of the bonnet & breastplate. They would also place a number on the front window frame as well."
If you Google that, you'll find the source, a Nation's Attic auction, and another Admiralty helmet, but that helmet - unlike this helmet - did not have matching bonnet and breastplate numbers and sold for only 50 plus 15% Premium ,037.50) some time ago.
Only the word "BACK" is stamped on the back brail.