Styrofoam conservation issues display

[ChrisCook]

I have recently put quite a few of my helmets and headgear onto styrofoam display heads. Now, I have just read that this may create issues on down the road? What's the story about display heads? If bad, is there a barrier of some sort that you can place between the styrofoam and the cap/helmet to protect it? Thanks, Chris...

[jacquesf]

A condom, use a condom. Jacques

[walt]

The SEARCH feature is our friend!

Here's a recent discussion to start you off : http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=235543

[ChrisCook]

Heads

A condom, use a condom. Jacques

Thanks for the posted link, that answers my question. Chris..

[Stahlhelm]

Well, I'll go ahead and add my opinion here. Whenever I find out a display or storage material can be harmful, my barrier is the amount of space between the militaria and the garbage can. Once something is confirmed to be dangerous, I just don't take chances.

Chris

[Paul R.]

Chris. Styrofoam heads start to deteriorate right after they are made. The material is unstable. Sometines the helmet leather can help exceloate the styrofoams deterioration. It may not reveal a problem right away, but soon a new problem can arise. Glass heads are not the archival solution either. The use of no mannequin head is the best way to display. Glass will cause moisture as well. It will also streatch the leather liner out of shape. If you still want to use a mannequin type display. There are a few archival companies that produce safe products for museums, but they are not as cheap as styrofoam heads. but neither are the helmets and visors we collect. Paul

[Stahlhelm]

I use nice metal Umbra paper towel holders which I have transformed into the perfect Helmet Stands. I just padded the small top of the towel holder with an archival material. The small padded ball (or top) of the paper towel holder fits perfectly between the liner fingers and only makes contact with the the metal top of the helmets interior. It makes no contact with the liner, it leaves plenty of room for ventilation, and it looks great! Some of the best stuff is out there to be made yourself, and less expensive than anything you may buy. Be creative!

Good luck!

Chris

[jacquesf]

Chris, the condom won't protect your caps, but it sure will prevent unwanted pregnancies.

I use styrofoam heads, but I cover them with woollen beanies before I place anything on them. Jacques

A condom, use a condom. Jacques

[Stahlhelm]

Chris, the condom won't protect your caps, but it sure will prevent unwanted pregnancies.

I use styrofoam heads, but I cover them with woollen beanies before I place anything on them. Jacques

Jacques,

If you do choose to use syrofoam, then I suppose what you're doing--putting an archival barrier between the helmet and the styrofoam--is about the best you can do. I guess, in the worst scenario, someone may find that styrofoam gas only rises, will then get caught under your helmet unable to escape, and wreak insidious havoc, despite the best effects of your woolen beanies. I'm just kidding, of course. I've heard no such horrors yet about the ways in which styrofoam gas moves and expands. However, in this area, I have learned to take one step forward and two steps back, as they say, always ready for anything.

One way or the other, I just personally don't even like the look of the styrofoam head (or any other head for that matter) under my helmets, so I don't even have to worry about it. I know, I know....helmets are made for heads, of course, but I just always like to minimize the distractions and maximize the focus on my helmets. Pure simplicity is always my goal. I know this is surely more of a personal preference than a proven necessity, but that's just the way my mind seems to process things.

I guess in the end, whatever works for you, and does also consider reasonable archival issues, is good enough. At least you are dealing with the stryrofoam issue in your own way and making it work for yourself, as you believe it works. I think they call that having your cake and eating it too. And, of course, that is the best way to have cake (and helmets!), although not eating the helmets too, of course....

Thanks for sharing your way of solving the problem,

Chris

[Jim B.]

I think the main issue with styrofoam heads - if you're going to use them - is keeping the headgear out of direct contact with the head. Even then the actual material used in the headgear will affect just how seriously you need to take action. I have a 1980s Soviet tanker's beret with synthetic brim, and it definitely reacts with a styrofoam head after several months (sticks to it). Regular cotton or wool does not seem to have a problem, but I still use a linen-cotton liner between the head and headgear.

What most people call "styrofoam" is actually expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads, which react most when heated. It does contain benzene, which is a petroleum product used as an industrial solvent. But with a boiling point of 80 degrees C, I have doubts about how much venting would occur at room temperature. The smog in our daily environment might pose as much of a threat as a styrofoam head, but that's speculation.

I still prefer glass heads, but only use them when they properly support the headgear in question, which is usually cloth caps. I wouldn't ever put an older helmet on a glass head due to the poor fit (could damage the liner), even many caps are too small for them. Glass heads are excellent platforms for cloth flight helmets, as I just got a USN cap and goggles from a vet (USMC TBF gunner: Bougainville, Tinian) and it fits perfectly on a glass head where otherwise it would just fold into a pile on the shelf. A foam head is too small for it and it just hangs there. Over the summer I started trying out some straight sided glass bowls used for floral arrangements. By turning them upside down they form a convenient flat-topped dome for perching overseas caps, and they have that nice museum look. If short enough, they can also be used inside caps made of thin wool in order to prevent sagging of the top panel (IE- Kriegsmarine caps, etc.).

Glass heads cannot "cause" moisture and their surface has the great advantage of being chemically inert (unlike foam heads). One problem might be condensation, but I would think that's only in conditions where humidity and the dew point in the room is somehow unfavorable.

I went out and bought some of the paper towel holders already mentioned, and they work great for helmets (Thanks Chris). It would be nice if I could find some sort of inert mesh dome (maybe a starched wool beanie) that could be adjusted onto the post for supporting helmet liners. This would especially help some of those older helmets. Over a hundred years or more I can see how the liner components would slowly sag if not supported... the most commonly collected items are well on the way toward their second hundred years!

Jim

[Stahlhelm]

Jim,

I'm glad the paper towel holders worked out for you! I'm glad I could be of help!

Chris