Casgliadau Arlein

Police helmet from the 1920’s/1930’s tall domed shape, flaring out at the brim, slightly longer at the back and pointed at the front. The basic shape is made from cork and is covered with 6 panels of navy cotton twill on the outside, sewn together by machine in black thread. The brim is bound with a thin strip of black leather and sewn by machine. The side panels each have 2 black metal eyelets for ventilation. A textured black coated metal strip trims the hat above the brim; it is fixed with a plain nail on the front and 3 decorative rose tacks on the back and sides. On the front there is a circular plaque with laurel leaves around the edge and a crown at the top, in the centre are gold plated letters ‘MC’ (Monmouth Constabulary). The top of the hat is adorned with a large black coated metal rose boss with 5 holes for ventilation. The inside is covered in a coated plain woven fabric possibly cotton, coloured green, also sewn in 6 panels with a hole in the crown. There are 3 small wooden pegs inserted through loops which hold the boss in place. There is a forehead band made from neutral coloured leather, it is fixed with a cardboard strip on the suede side, sewn with black and white linen threads, then leather is folded back so that the smooth side is outermost, the top edge is not fixed but has been gathered with white cotton string to adjust for a more comfortable fit. There is a black patent leather chin strap caught in under the forehead band on each side, it has 2 coated black metal buckles for adjusting the size.