Kansas City Chiefs Helmet c. 1980

[silverjus12]

I'm looking at this Kansas City Chiefs helmet and it is supposedly game worn, player unknown. However, I've never seen a NFL helmet with the "Gladiator" pad. Has anyone seen this before. I looked through Getty and found simialr looking helmets from 77-83 but nothing with the "Gladiator" pad.
http://www.huntauctions.com/liveimg36/32.jpg

Thanks.

[mvandor]

See post 19, http://www.gameuseduniverse.com/vb_forum/showthread.php?t=20996&page=2

[cohibasmoker]

Maybe I can help you out a little. I recently bought a Cowboys helmet from a guy who actually worked for Medalist back in the late 1970's. After the purchase, I emailed him a few times and I asked him some general information about Medalist helmets as well as a Vikings helmet I have owned for the past 15+ years. I had always thought my Vikings helmet may have been at least a team issue because of 1) the padding used for the helmet and, 2) inside the helmet, above the left ear-hole, there is a purple strip of dyno tape with Barnes engraved on it.

What I could not understand about my Vikings helmet was the model number - YPHH. I always thought that if any helmet that had a "Y" at the beginning of the model number, it was a youth helmet. After the below email, I am not so sure that we can say with 100% accuracy that a model YPHH Gladiator helmet is used solely for Youth helmets.

HERE IS THE EMAIL:

Medalist had 4 models of helmets. The GHH and G-66 were adult models. the YPHH and the YP-96 were the youth models. YPHH stands for "Young Pro Hydro-flo Helmet". The YPHH model only went up to a head size of 7-5/8 where the GHH model went up to head size 7-7/8.

Gladiator did make replica helmets, primarily for the NFL's Punt Pass & Kick competitions that were held from the late 60's until the 80's. Perhaps even later than that. The stripes and decals were official NFL property items that Gladiator bought directly from and authorized supplier. They did not make replica helmets for general sales to sporting goods stores. So what you have is a special order helmet.

The helmet shell itself is not a heavy item. It is the padding on the inside that adds the weight for the wearer. The hydroflo helmet provided the safest helmet but it was a bit heavier than a helmet that was pure padding. Perhaps the kickers used helmets that were dry foam padding only.


Hope this helps,

Jim

flaa1a@comcast.net

[silverjus12]

Thanks for the great reply. So were there any issued gladiator helmets or were they ALL replicas? Thanks again.

[cohibasmoker]

Thanks for the great reply. So were there any issued gladiator helmets or were they ALL replicas? Thanks again.

Gladiator most definitely made helmets for NFL teams. As for the Chiefs helmet, maybe the seller can provide some more information or you can email Robert (aeneas01) directly - his email address is at the bottom of all his threads.

In the meanwhile, as mvandor wrote, check out post 19

http://www.gameuseduniverse.com/vb_forum/showthread.php?t=20996&page=2

Jim

[aeneas01]

the chiefs helmet you are asking about was recently sold at hunt's nfl auction for $100 plus fees. it's a gladiator adult model (ghh) which was worn by some nfl teams including the chiefs. when it was listed at hunt, it did not include any interior padding; only the helmet shell, nose snubber, chinstrap and facemask. as far as not being able to match the "gladiator" logo on the front pad is concerned, this is not surprising given that many chiefs players wore dungard facemasks with large "t-bar" attachment points which covered any nose padding (snubber) logos.

some interesting things about this lid:

1. it's fitted with a vintage dungard dg140 facemask which has been customized (the vertical nose protection bar has been removed). it's a white dungard which the chiefs began using in 1974.

2. it's fitted with a vintage and rare 4-point riddell (stencil-style) chinstrap. hand written on this chinstrap is "klein 80" - according to the chief's alltime roster, no player named "klein" ever made the team.

3. there appears to be a an odd drill hole along the center ridge, towards the front of the helmet. this is not a factory ventilation hole nor is it a typical gladiator helmet feature.

...

[silverjus12]

Thanks for the great info. You guys have an unbeliveable knowledge of the NFL history. I'm new to the matching and I didn't even pick up on the chin strap.

Actually, I may not have been clear. I won the helmet from hunt. I just found out today. Once I receive the helmet I'm going to try to do some photo matching but I'm not planning on finding anything.

It almost seems like this helmet was thrown together from vintage parts. Do you think that's an early, fair assessment?

[helmets]

I looked through Getty and found simialr looking helmets from 77-83 but nothing with the "Gladiator" pad.
http://www.huntauctions.com/liveimg36/32.jpg

Thanks.

Did you find any photos with a clear edge around a 20 mil decal?
Just wondering...

[silverjus12]

I think so. Here are 3 images I found that show the border:
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/tt243/silverjus12/helmet3.jpg

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/tt243/silverjus12/helmet2.jpg


http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/tt243/silverjus12/helmet1.jpg