The earliest Siebe Gorman helmets did not have nametags but the name was stamped into the breastplate.
 

This is the 2nd style of 12 bolt from Siebe Gorman and it was used from 1880 to 1904. The name is stamped into the copper breastplate.
There are wing nuts securing the brailles and there is a teardrop spitcock handle. We see however this helmet has been
modified by the removal of the English exhaust which has been replaced by a Swedish exhaust.
There has also been a telephone added to the helmet when the modifications were made.
 

A close examination of the exhaust reveals it was made by Erik Andersson from a design by Arne Zetterstrom.
The extensive solder around this area partly masks the area where the Siebe Gorman exhaust has been removed.
The side view reveals the side window grills have been removed. Additional lashing eyes have been added to the helmet.

To find out more about the Swedish connection visit the Sweden chapter

Another older style Helmet. The spitcock is of the teardrop design. The rear view clearly shows the helmet has been repaired and the air inlet
gooseneck has been reinforced, possibly at the factory. Notice the nameplate area the outline of the badge can be seen but there is no badge present.
 

On close examination of the badge area although the badge outline is clearly present the breastplate is stamped with the makers name.
This suggests the helmet may have been returned to the factory for repair and a badge has been fitted.
The badge has since been removed although the rivets can clearly be seen. The serial number is in the 9000 range.

Photo courtesy of the Clint Green Collection

In 1905 Helmets were fitted with a heavy cast brass name tag bearing the name Siebe, Gorman & Co .Ltd. This badge had a short life and around 1908
the traditional flat brass badge came into use. This 12 bolt helmet with a reinforced dome has a bulge to the rear of the helmet. This houses a telephone
speaker that was added at a later date. The side window grills have also been removed , a common diver modification. The spitcock is now the newer
design with a tapered lever and is now generally fitted to the left of the helmet for operation by the diver's right hand.
 

Judging from the nametag style, this also is an older Siebe helmet. 
At the rear is a kind of lump sticking out. This is not original. We think it holds the transceiver that was later built in.
 

Here is helmet 17908, just after it arrived in the museum. Over the years this beauty got a brown patina. 
The caps are missing and there are some dents in the breastplate.

Same helmet, posing in the snow, a couple of days later. The major dents are gone, caps installed, ropes to hold airhose and comm wire. Now, this helmet is fitted with a welding lens faceplate. To clean helmets, we use fine steelwool pads and fine rubbing compound. You dip the pad in the compound and make circular movements over the surface. Over time, the helmet will darken again and gain a beautiful patina.

Siebe Gorman 12-bolt for the American market

Here is a rare Siebe Gorman 12 bolt helmet. Especially for the American market, it was adjusted in a great way. Notice the banana exhaust, oval side windows and safety pin in front. The air inlet elbow is fitted with an American non return valve.

12 Bolt helmet for the Swedish Navy

From the picture above the front of the helmet appears to be a usual pattern tinned 12 bolt helmet. However the rear reveals a modified bonnet.
The exhaust valve has been removed and the Swedish pattern exhaust had been fitted. The telephone connector has also been replaced
with a slimmer style gooseneck. The air inlet connector is the usual one . The patches are clearly visible and are factory fitted.

Siebe Gorman 12-bolt Royal Dutch Engineers

Just as the Swedish Navy had the 12 bolt Siebe Gorman helmet modified , so did the Royal Dutch Engineers .The corselet was fitted with an additional air inlet. The chest weigh was replaced by an air chest weight supplied by the Draeger Company in Germany. A hose connected the chest weight to the corselet. The weight lugs were replaced by Draeger type hooks. The Diver was able to draw air from the air cylinders in the chest weight in the event the air supply from the surface became interrupted.

The last Siebe?

Here you see a rare Siebe Gorman 12-bolt helmet. The helmet was probably made after 1979 for the Russians. It carries serial number 005. By the nametag you can tell it is a recent hat. What makes it so special is that by 1979 the Superlight helmets found their way to the world of commercial diving. Therefore the chance of this being one of the last Siebe Gorman helmets ever made is big ! Courtesy of our buddy Zarko Sajic.