Douglas Helmet

[Doogle]

Hi all,

I have just purchased and old pudding bowl helmet with Douglas lettering to the front and I'm trying to find out a little more about it. Whether anyone knows the original owner or user, perhaps a works rider or one that's been used for racing or maybe unknown and just someone that wanted to brand it to match their bike..
Has a number and name inside, I assume its the name of the original user, does it mean anything to anyone? 2570171 Lac Francis. Made by Géno Paris. Dark brown colour and made from aluminium with canvas webbing and leather straps and ear covers.
Thanks
Doug 

[cardan]

Hi Doug,

Sounds cool - how about a photo?

From the 1920s it was common to have the name of your preferred machine on your helmet - have a look through the photos in the RA thread below and maybe half the helmets have "Douglas" on them. Not to mention Douglas knitted into your sweater! I think the practice was common with the weekend clubman and the professional rider.

Re "Lac Francis" - could it be an address rather than a name? (Lake Francis, en francais.)

Cheers

Leon

[Doogle]

Thanks Leon, will try upload a photo.
Have a feeling it's probably an example of common practice like you say

[cardan]

Common practice perhaps, but a very lovely and rare thing. Thanks for posting the photo. Wouldn't it be great to find out whose head it was on.

Leon