Need help! Mk II sporting a 1941 dated liner produced in China / Hong Kong ?
Morning gents I had a friend and fellow collector send me images of this particular Mk II quite a few weeks back and both of us are trying to research its origins and we are not having a lot of luck with the identification perhaps you gents may be of assistance I have contacted Chiaphua Industries Ltd in hopes that they may be able to shed a little more light on the subject and the owner has contacted the Assistant Curator of the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence but unfortunately they were of little assistance and Chiap Hue as of yet has not replied to my queries in regards to any information that they may have in regards to these particular helmet bodies and or production details…
The first thing that catches ones attention is that the liner was produced in Hong Kong in 1941 other notable oddities such as the rim has been folded under on this particular MK II giving it the initial appearance from the exterior that it is a rimless helm and the helmet bodies are magnetic in nature which a friend whom has handled a ground dug example in Hong Kong has been able to confirm is correct as is the rolled under edge unfortunately the example was so deteriorated he was unable to help with a positive ID..
The chinstrap lugs as well seem to be a we bit of an oddity in size and shape as do the oversized chinstrap lug retaining rivets,The liner retention nut and bolt as best I can tell as well seems to be incorrect for any other commonwealth production Mk II that comes to mind I have an opportunity to add this helm to my collection but I am looking for a little more feed back before making a offer …
I do suspect that it may be one of the Mk II helmet bodies that was produced either in China and or Hong Kong by the Chiap Hue Steel and Iron Works but remarkably there is very little information period images and or technical data out there that I can find on these particular helms which of course makes ID them a daunting task… It seems to bare a striking resemblance to a WW II era British private purchase helmet that was offered to the public..
I did find a little bit of data in regards to the manufacture and the type of wares they offered and operational time frame this of course does not help to identify the helmet but interesting all the same is this period advertisement circa 1941 from the company that goes to support that they did at the least produce a version of the Mk II as part of there wares line…
I am unable to find any technical production information and or images of the interior of an example to support what they look like and or when they may of been produced so if anyone has any thoughts and or information on these helmet bodies it would be greatly appreciated…
The first thing that catches ones attention is that the liner was produced in Hong Kong in 1941 other notable oddities such as the rim has been folded under on this particular MK II giving it the initial appearance from the exterior that it is a rimless helm and the helmet bodies are magnetic in nature which a friend whom has handled a ground dug example in Hong Kong has been able to confirm is correct as is the rolled under edge unfortunately the example was so deteriorated he was unable to help with a positive ID..
The chinstrap lugs as well seem to be a we bit of an oddity in size and shape as do the oversized chinstrap lug retaining rivets,The liner retention nut and bolt as best I can tell as well seems to be incorrect for any other commonwealth production Mk II that comes to mind I have an opportunity to add this helm to my collection but I am looking for a little more feed back before making a offer …
I do suspect that it may be one of the Mk II helmet bodies that was produced either in China and or Hong Kong by the Chiap Hue Steel and Iron Works but remarkably there is very little information period images and or technical data out there that I can find on these particular helms which of course makes ID them a daunting task… It seems to bare a striking resemblance to a WW II era British private purchase helmet that was offered to the public..
I did find a little bit of data in regards to the manufacture and the type of wares they offered and operational time frame this of course does not help to identify the helmet but interesting all the same is this period advertisement circa 1941 from the company that goes to support that they did at the least produce a version of the Mk II as part of there wares line…
I am unable to find any technical production information and or images of the interior of an example to support what they look like and or when they may of been produced so if anyone has any thoughts and or information on these helmet bodies it would be greatly appreciated…
Regards Mark
