1950 Helmet – Red strip

History 1950 Helmet – Red strip

This 1950 Helmet – Red strip was originally manufactured by a London firm named Herbert Johnson and was intended for polo players. Then, it was adopted by racing drivers.
It was made of superimposed and stamped fabrics.
When Jean-François Bardinon decided to offer it to our customers, he asked the famous driver Maurice Trintignant if he would accept to lend him his model.
Maurice confidently agreed with high recommendations to take care of this helmet. He won many victories with this special helmet and therefore it was particularly important for him.

Computer modelling did not exist at that time, so Jean-François Bardinon had no other solution than plunging it entirely into a plaster bath.

The 72 hours of drying time seemed endless, but fortunately the helmet came out with no damage.
Jean-François Bardinon, relieved, took it back to Maurice Trintignant who never heard about the risk involved.

As Chapal could not ensure the stamping of canvas layers, it was decided to manufacture the shell in fiberglass.
The technical development was carried out by an engineer friend working in the plastic laboratory of Matra company in Romorantin, center of France.
The helmet is now available in painted, canvas and resin finishes, (Juan-Manuel Fangio had a canvas-resin at that time), or leather covered (very special handmade process).

Today all the manufacturing is carried out in our factory in Crocq.
The genesis of this helmet deserved to be told.