Objects Database

Compton Climbing helmet

Accession Number

798.2009.3

Object Name

Compton Climbing helmet

Created

28/01/2009

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

28/01/2009

Brief Description

White climbing helmet with black plastic edging. Brown leather chinstraps with metal buckle. Cream criss cross canvas straps inside. Four holes on helmet.

Materials

metal, leather, canvas

Dimensions

66( circumference ) cms

Number Of Objects

1

Inscription Description

"THE COMPTON CLIMBER MADE BY J. COMPTON. SONS & WEBB LTD 404/422 OLD FORD ROAD, LONDON E.3" on label inside helmet. Also "H. HILTON" handwritten inside.

Colour

white

Maker

J.Compton.Sons & Webb

Object Production Place

London

Provenance

J Compton Sons & Webb were clothing manufacturers back in the old days, based down in Old Ford Road, London in the 1930's but they seem to have been gobbled up by one of the big conglomerates somewhere along the line and no longer exist.
At some point they decided to start making motorcycle helmets which have subsequently become collector's items. With an ever growing mountaineering and climbing market in the 1960's a logical progression was a helmet for climbers and we think the Compton MK1 - which we have here - was the first helmet made specifically for climbers in the UK. Prior to that it had been peaked caps and woolly hats; but now (2013) nearly 60 years after the first helmets appeared, just about every mountaineer wears one.
The one we have here was worn by the late Harry Hilton.

Acquisition Method

Donated by David Wrigglesworth on behalf of the late Harry Hilton

Acquisition Date

27/01/2009

Condition Check Date

28/04/2009

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

28/04/2009

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