aeneas01
04-30-2008, 02:57 AM
rudy shot over an email today pointing me to a game used george blanda helmet, authenticated by lampson, currently listed at historic auctions - starting bid is $500.
http://www.historicauctions.com/search/list/auctionid/41385/
sadly, after looking at the helmet, i'm forced to once again do what is bad for the hobby - try to save someone some money; hope you forgive me chris. the helmet is so replete with problems that i really can't believe it actually made it to auction.
1. the outline of the number 32 can clearly be seen below the number 16 on the back of the helmet. this would suggest that blanda, a 26-year vet, 4-time pro bowler and first team all-pro was issued a hand me down helmet, a helmet once belonging to number 32.
2. the listed helmet is a rac-k2, not an rk2 as mentioned in the item description. blanda did in fact wear a rac-k2 during this period however his helmet was never reconditioned to the point of replacing the gray nose snubber and gray interior rubber webbing gaskets with the more contemporary white nose snubber and gaskets. the listed helmet has been fitted with these newer white items.
3. not only are additional facemask holes present in the listed rac-k2 helmet, but these holes have been used - blanda's rac-k2 was never drilled with additional holes. blanda switched to an tk helmet in 1974 which he wore in 1974 and 1975, his final two years in the league - his tk did have additional facemask holes, most likely factory drilled and most likely never used.
4. the number 6 decal, forming the number 16, on the back of the listed helmet is inconsistent with the font found on blanda's helmet from that period.
5. it appears that blanda's rac-k2 was fitted with a custom forehead pad in the area of the webbing leather sweatband. the listed helmet is not fitted with such a custom headband.
6. it would seem that the listed helmet most likely belonged to don highsmith (rb 1970-1972) - his number was 32, he wore a rac-k2 and he wore a clip on cage facemask which would account for the additional facemask holes appearing in the listed helmet.
is it possible that blanda could have worn this helmet at any time during his career? as an emergency backup for a series, quarter, a half or a game due to his being damaged? sure, anything is possible. but once we begin to travel down that road then virtually any game used helmet could be attributed to any hall of fame player assuming that the team and era matched. but i don't think this is what a bidder is looking for when bidding on game used items said to have belonged to a specific player - i think the bidder expects, and should expect, that the item is representative of what the player commonly wore as supported by photos and film unless otherwise stated.
historic auctions listing, lampson authenticated:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/sub/comp01-6.jpg
1 - 1970: blanda wearing a rac-k2 - no additional facemask holes, gray snubber.
2 - 1970: font closeup - compare the number 6.
3 - 1973: last year blanda wore a rac-k2 - no additional facemask holes, gray snubber.
4 - 1970: inside of blanda's rac-k2 - custom forehead pad visible.
5 - 1970: don highsmith - number 32, clip on cage.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/sub/comp02-5.jpg
http://www.historicauctions.com/search/list/auctionid/41385/
sadly, after looking at the helmet, i'm forced to once again do what is bad for the hobby - try to save someone some money; hope you forgive me chris. the helmet is so replete with problems that i really can't believe it actually made it to auction.
1. the outline of the number 32 can clearly be seen below the number 16 on the back of the helmet. this would suggest that blanda, a 26-year vet, 4-time pro bowler and first team all-pro was issued a hand me down helmet, a helmet once belonging to number 32.
2. the listed helmet is a rac-k2, not an rk2 as mentioned in the item description. blanda did in fact wear a rac-k2 during this period however his helmet was never reconditioned to the point of replacing the gray nose snubber and gray interior rubber webbing gaskets with the more contemporary white nose snubber and gaskets. the listed helmet has been fitted with these newer white items.
3. not only are additional facemask holes present in the listed rac-k2 helmet, but these holes have been used - blanda's rac-k2 was never drilled with additional holes. blanda switched to an tk helmet in 1974 which he wore in 1974 and 1975, his final two years in the league - his tk did have additional facemask holes, most likely factory drilled and most likely never used.
4. the number 6 decal, forming the number 16, on the back of the listed helmet is inconsistent with the font found on blanda's helmet from that period.
5. it appears that blanda's rac-k2 was fitted with a custom forehead pad in the area of the webbing leather sweatband. the listed helmet is not fitted with such a custom headband.
6. it would seem that the listed helmet most likely belonged to don highsmith (rb 1970-1972) - his number was 32, he wore a rac-k2 and he wore a clip on cage facemask which would account for the additional facemask holes appearing in the listed helmet.
is it possible that blanda could have worn this helmet at any time during his career? as an emergency backup for a series, quarter, a half or a game due to his being damaged? sure, anything is possible. but once we begin to travel down that road then virtually any game used helmet could be attributed to any hall of fame player assuming that the team and era matched. but i don't think this is what a bidder is looking for when bidding on game used items said to have belonged to a specific player - i think the bidder expects, and should expect, that the item is representative of what the player commonly wore as supported by photos and film unless otherwise stated.
historic auctions listing, lampson authenticated:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/sub/comp01-6.jpg
1 - 1970: blanda wearing a rac-k2 - no additional facemask holes, gray snubber.
2 - 1970: font closeup - compare the number 6.
3 - 1973: last year blanda wore a rac-k2 - no additional facemask holes, gray snubber.
4 - 1970: inside of blanda's rac-k2 - custom forehead pad visible.
5 - 1970: don highsmith - number 32, clip on cage.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/sub/comp02-5.jpg