Description

Helmet: Dress uniform helmet of National Guard, Company G, 13th MN Volunteers. It is a model 1881 dress helmet. The helmet is cork covered in black felt. It is made of four pieces of felt. The height of the helmet (with the measuring tape against the helmet) is 8" on the sides, 8 1/2" in the front, and 9 3/4" in the back. The head opening is 5 3/4" wide and 8" long. Front the front to back brim it is 11 1/4" long and from the sides it is 6 1/2" wide. The brim from the bottom of the band to the edge in the front is 2" wide and in the back is 2 3/8" wide. Around the top of the crown is a circle of gold colored brass acorn leaves. At the top of the helmet is a gold colored brass six sided spike that is 2 7/8" high. In the front center of the crown is a large gold colored brass cut-out Arms of the United States embelm. It is an eagle with a banner in its mouth that says "E PLURIBUS UNUM". There is a shield in the center with 13 stars on the top and vertical stripes on the bottom. There is a raised "1" (regiment) in the center of the shield. Behind the shield are two corssed rifles. In the eagle's right claw is an olive branch and in the left claw are three arrows. Around the bottom edge of the helmet is a 1/4" wide black leather edging. There is a 7/8" wide black leather band around the bottom of the side crown. On the sides of the leather band is a gold colored brass button with raised crossed rifles. Attached to it is a 5/8" wide black leather chin strap. There is a gold colored brass sliding buckle on the side to adjust the size. The inside is lined with light brown cotton. The inside brim is lined with black cotton. Around the bottom inside is a 1 1/2" wide brown leather band. Stamped in silver on the left side of the band is "THE M.C. LILLEY & CO./MANUFACTURERS/COLUMBUS, OHIO". At the back of the band is a red size sticker label with a gold edged and a gold center with a red "7 1/8". In the back of the helmet above the band is a cream piece of paper with black pen writing. The first line is unreadable because the paper is torn. The rest reads "Arthur/Danielson" in cursive. On the right side above the band is a cream piece of paper with black pen writing that reads "Arthur Danielson'" cursive. There is a remnant of a paper label at the top center by the metal plate that the spear is attached to. There is a "D" written on the right side on the lining. Condition - There is a hole in the felt at the center back seam above the leather band. The leather band has a small rip in the center back and front left and the black has worn off in a spot on the front left. There are white marks on the leather band, chin strap, and leather edging. The leather chin strap is worn and the loop that holds the end of the adjustable part of the strap is torn. The leather edging is worn. The spike is tarnishing. The inside lining is missing in front and has brown stains. There are holes in the cork in the front. The metal plate at the top inside is rusting. The inside leather band is worn and has rips. The black brim lining is ripped at the top seam in the back and front.

Worn in 1890s in Philippines by 1Sgt. Arthur Danielson, Red Wing.

Geographic Notes

Columbus/Ohio/USA