Wanted - Bombay Bowler Pith Helmet

Topper · Aug 1, 2006

Hi all

Wondering if anyone had one for sale?

Looking for a "Bombay Bowler " style Pith Helmet
Good condition as will be wearing it, preferably white though Tan is ok and i will dye it white.

Size 7 & 1/2 or 7 & 5/8 UK ( which conidsidering it would have been made most likely in India 50yrs ago will be the size it stated and doubt any markings would be a US size inside)

Cheers
Doug

Wolfmanjack · Aug 1, 2006

Doug, Search in eBay with the words zulu pith. You will get a dozen, ranging in price from $15 to $25.

Hope this helps,

Baggers · Aug 1, 2006

I've gotten good results simply using "pith helmet". It's broad enough that it grabs everything. Using "zulu" might filter out what you're looking for since it technically applies only to the classic foreign service helmet like the ones used in the movie of the same name. The Indian Bombay bowler is a entirely different style.

There were actually three distinct patterns of helmets worn by the British. The 19th century era "Zulu" style foreign service helmet, later replaced around the turn of the century by the Wolesley pattern which was worn up until the beginning of WW2, and the Indian solar (or sola) topee which was worn exclusively on service in India. This, of course, only covers those on H.M.'s service in various corners of the empire, but civilians wore privately purchased helmets based mainly on the last two patterns during the first half of the 20th century.

Cheers!

Mojave Jack · Aug 1, 2006

If I have my pith helmets straight, the Bombay Bowler had the flatter top, and had a more sharply curved brim edge, too.

From Khaki Drill and Jungle Green

They don't all look so much like a bucket as this guy's!

jake_fink · Aug 1, 2006

That helmet seems a little large.

Mojave Jack said:
If I have my pith helmets straight, the Bombay Bowler had the flatter top, and had a more sharply curved brim edge, too.

From Khaki Drill and Jungle Green

They don't all look so much like a bucket as this guy's!

This image looks like one of Quigley Brown's manipulations.

Mojave Jack · Aug 1, 2006

Yeah, he looks a little top heavy!

Topper · Aug 2, 2006

Mojave Jack said:
Yeah, he looks a little top heavy!

Maybe, but maybe the person is just a little light instead

Yep that be a Bombay Bowler, very specific type. The Zulu or Diplomatic one is more Boar war era, the Wolseley is good but too round for my liking. The Bombay is the flat top version - Been looking for ages - nearly got one last weekend, but the ebay auction blocked my bid as was in the UK despite US person saying i could bid :-(

I can get the modern repos made in vietnam, but prefer origonal. Besides Have not seen a pic of the Bombay one yet in reops - always looks like the Wolseley instead when people show it to me.

Anyway in case anyone has one for sale - pelase give me a bell

ta
Doug

Baggers · Aug 2, 2006

Yes, the "civvie" versions were a lot more compact, like the one I'm wearing here. This helmet was made in India perhaps 20 years ago, I'm surprised that they cannot be found new anymore. If there's a market for all the vinyl & velcro sweatbanded "one size fits none" crap coming out of Vietnam these days, certainly there should still be a niche market for a decently crafted helmet from India. :rage:

Perhaps BT will think of adding one if he ever gets his line of vintage threads up and running.

Cheers!

Mojave Jack · Aug 2, 2006

The commercial Bombay Bowlers I 've seen have the flat top, but the brim doesn't angle under at the edge. They typically have the same brim as the French helmet. I suppose they are just using the same lower portions to save money.

The Marine Primary Marksmanship Instructors still wear the fiberglass pith helmets at all Marine Corps ranges, including here at 29 Palms. A co-worker, who is a retired Navy officer, was wearing his around base with a Navy officer's insignia on it. He got a few dirty looks, so he quit wearing it. Just like the flap over the black beret in the Army, like the Rangers the PMIs have come to think of that helmet as their distinctive headgear, and object to anyone else wearing them. Learn your history, folks!

Baggers · Aug 2, 2006

Mojave Jack said:
The commercial Bombay Bowlers I 've seen have the flat top, but the brim doesn't angle under at the edge. They typically have the same brim as the French helmet. I suppose they are just using the same lower portions to save money.

Take a close look at mine. It definitely has the angled edge, it's just scaled down to stay in proportion with the overall dimensions of the helmet. Part of the problem with the current crop from Indochina may be that the shells are a lot thinner than the Indian originals. I know mine is the same thickness as that angled edge (almost 3/4"), so that may be why the new ones look wrong.

Mojave Jack said:
The Marine Primary Marksmanship Instructors still wear the fiberglass pith helmets at all Marine Corps ranges, including here at 29 Palms. A co-worker, who is a retired Navy officer, was wearing his around base with a Navy officer's insignia on it. He got a few dirty looks, so he quit wearing it. Just like the flap over the black beret in the Army, like the Rangers the PMIs have come to think of that helmet as their distinctive headgear, and object to anyone else wearing them. Learn your history, folks!

At the risk of pursuing the off topicness a bit further, if Marine PMIs want to claim ownership of a piece of headgear that every other service declared obsolete over 40 years ago (I believe the Army dropped it after the early advisors in South Vietnam thought it looked too "colonial" lol ), let 'em. But casting the hairy eyeball on a Navy vet for wearing one seems a lot like "biting the hand that feeds you" to me. After all, aren't the Marines still under the overall auspices of the Navy Department, or did they finally gain their independence? Kinda sounds like signs of an inferiority complex, doesn't it?

And I wonder if they give mail carriers and the occasional civilian retiree backyard gardener the same treatment? I mean, it's not like everybody else is wearing the EGA on it, are they?

Cheers!

Topper · Aug 2, 2006

Baggers said:
Take a close look at mine. It definitely has the angled edge, it's just scaled down to stay in proportion with the overall dimensions of the helmet. Part of the problem with the current crop from Indochina may be that the shells are a lot thinner than the Indian originals. I know mine is the same thickness as that angled edge (almost 3/4"), so that may be why the new ones look wrong.

Yepp I have checked with the latest imports from Vietnam, and they all appear more like the Wolsey or French on the front crown more curved rather than a sharp Angled blunt tip front as per above pictures.
Also the Vietnam ones have a nipple on the Top of the Crown for air, which the Bombay did not have,

- Like the civvy repro style one Baggers! can you get any more of them?

Topper · Aug 4, 2006

Found a retailler with correct style

http://www.millerhats.com/pith_index/sports4.html

But only has it in Large ( soo small for me) and in Tan - Does anyone here have a contact at Miller ? - or know where they get their hats made?

I could only speak with a sales rep who ( as expected) would not give out any further info, except to say that the hats were made in USA though only their word for it).

cheers
Doug

docholliday55 · Aug 8, 2006

Topper,
Check out this website these folks had some pith helmets for sale on e-bay and may still have some of them or be able to give you a line about where to find them.
http://www.deadelaar.net/
Good luck,
doc

Wanted - Bombay Bowler Pith Helmet

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