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**Towarish** · 07-01-2011, 04:46 AM

I have put a small piece of styrofoam between the liner and the shell.
Works out well on a mannequin head.

Cheers,
Philipp

**Paul R.** · 07-01-2011, 09:25 AM

From a conservation point of view on helmet stands. I would never put any helmet on a stand (wood or metal), or sit it on a piece of foam. The wood stands offer no support to the thin helmet liner which in time will sag and tear. The entire weight of the helmet is rest on a 4 X 4 in piece of stained wood. The wood piece in the end would compromising the thin leather liner.
Unless you are using ethfoam (archival safe for all items) other foams outgas those fumes will attack your liners.
</O

Of course these are you items to do with whatever you see fit!

**rbminis** · 07-04-2011, 11:46 PM

Here is a good thread to read through, the stands work for helmets as well.
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...skipper+stands
Ralph.

**Paul R.** · 07-06-2011, 08:00 AM

Yes, this is a nice design, and could work in most cases. As a collector of military visors and helmets before I would running out to buy one of these hat stretchers. I would take a very close look at the overall condition on any helmet or visor you may want to display like this.

With all due respect to Skipper Greenwade, and his great wood working ability.

This devise is a hat stretcher and nothing more. This style of a hat stretchers have been around for a long time. There original design concept back in the 1800's. Was to reshape felted hats that came under the same conditions of visors did. Rain, body sweat, dirt, sat upon etc. They would moisten and steam the hat a place this type of hat streacher in side the hat and slowly as the hat was drying simple apply pressure outward by adjusting the expanding screw device.

In reality I would caution anyone with a visor in moderate to poor condition to seriously stay away from a hat stretcher for display systems.

Let me explain why as a conservator I’m stating my findings. If you have a visor with a fragile sweatband or compromised sweatband and lining you would be placing more pressure against the visor lining, and sweatband in attempt to display your visor. I would also be concerned with fragile or compromised celluloid diamond by placing undue stress on the satin lining. Also a concern is the actual (black cap bill) Vulcan fiber visors. Some threads that are loose on the Vulcan visor, or if the visor is slightly damaged by wear can put more stress on a visor. It’s like trying to put on a old childhood shirt on an adult body something got to give some were. Visors have always been a concern for conservators because of their overall design and human wear.

Of course these are your items to do with as you see fit...

**bobcam1** · 07-06-2011, 09:06 AM

Any display can be used improperly.

When Skip's stands are applied properly, by expanding the insert JUST enough to support the visor, and not enough to stretch it out, they are a PERFECTLY SAFE way to display a visor cap, as they simply mimic a visor cap being placed on a head that is the proper size for that cap.

When used correctly, they present NO danger whatsoever to the displayed cap.

Of course, that same attention to proper fitting applies to helmets, where the danger is even less.

Other stands that support a helmet by fitting through the opening at the top of a helmet liner, and resting on the metal inside the dome, are also a good alternative, since they present ZERO danger to the helmet, itself.

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