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Larry Pelliccioni
10-04-2008, 02:12 PM
Kelley and MacGregor helmets? Often when I show my collection, there is an inordinate amount of interest in the clear shell ones from the 1970's and 1980's. I am wondering about their value. If it matters the teams in question are the Detroit Lions and the Southern California Sun.
On another matter, what is the value of the WFL World Champion Birmingham Americans helmet of one of their starting linemen.
All insights are appreciated, thanks.
Larry Pelliccioni

DrJ
10-05-2008, 12:37 AM
Based on what I can recall seeing clear shells go for, I would estimate between $900 and $1,200. This is if they are all original and have player identifiers (but are not a star player, local favorite, etc). I'm not as familiar with WFL though - it might carry a premium. Aeneas would probably be best equiped to answer for you as I think he has mentioned that he keeps a database of helmets sold on the market. He's hard to beat for any helmet questions in fact ;) . Just my opinion on the pricing, hope that helps.

aeneas01
10-05-2008, 01:29 AM
larry -

imo vintage clear shells are among the nicest and rarest helmets in circulation and tend to run the gamut as far as selling prices are concerned - i've seen them virtually ignored at auction and have also seen them cause bidding wars. one thing is for sure - there are a few clear shell collectors out there willing to spend whatever it takes to win one at auction and when they converge on the same helmet it can go for a very nice amount.

your lions clear shell is very, very rare - i've only come across one at auction over the years. as a matter of fact, for whatever reason, vintage detroit lions helmets seem to be very rare in general and usually fetch a nice amount - even the vintage detroit lions helmet lamps made by riddell. surprisingly, sc sun clear shell helmets are more common - i've seen at least a half a dozen at auction through the years.

i don't think that the manufacturer (kelley, max pro, macgregor) of the helmet drives the price as much as condition, team and/or model (leather padding vs vinyl for example). but you just never know when it comes to these babies. a few years ago an authentic, vintage clear shell longhorns helmet dressed to look just like earl campbell's sold for close to $4,000 - the seller was very up front and honest about the helmet being an "authentic reproduction" and never belonging to ec but it attracted a bunch of bidders and a very high price imo.

here are some clear shells that have sold at auction over the years including the detroit lions helmets i mentioned and a couple of sc sun helmets...


http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/cs01.jpg


here a some more clear shells that have sold at auction....

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/cs02.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/cs03.jpg


=============================

i want to also add that there are a couple of guys out there that have had tremendous success creating clear shell reproductions - they get their hands on a clear shell lid, strip it down until it is nothing more than the transparent shell, remove the padding and then go to work. frankly, these guys are nothing short of genuine artists and the end result of their work is stunning. fortunately these guys are also among the nicest and most honest collectors around and on the rare occasion they do put one of their lids up for auction they go to great lengths to describe them as reproductions (even tho they could pass for authentic).

on the other side of the fence you have a guy out there that collects clear shells and turns around and misrepresents the hell out of many of them. what makes this especially nauseating is that he owns a tremendous collection of authentic clear shells and should be above this crappola - but greed has obviously proven too much of a temptation.

below are a few of the helmets that he's misrepresented. he purchased the atlanta falcons clear shell (left) for $125 on ebay - it was listed by a woman who said it was her husband's, that he wore it when he played pop warner. it is indeed one of the youth models macgregor produced for kids during that era. the crook relisted it (right) on ebay as a game used falcons lid that he obtained from a sports bar in houston - asking price $1,300. the delaware helmet (left) sold on ebay for $295 by a guy who said he went to delaware, was in the booster club and band, and was given the helmet by the team. in this auction he also included other delaware momentos including the delaware button (pictured), a banner, programs and other items. the crook relisted it (right) as a game used michigan helmet that he had obtained from team sources. i was able to contact bidders and the helmet ended up selling for far less than what would be expected for an authentic michigan clear shell - but it did go for $595. the vt helmet lamp (right) was listed on ebay by a well known collector, it sold for $295. the crook removed all of the lamp parts, attempted to remove all evidence (scarring) of the lamp and relisted it (left) as a helmet that he had obtained along with other helmets from a private collection. asking price - $1,900.


http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/cs04.jpg


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Larry Pelliccioni
10-05-2008, 09:35 AM
Robert,
Great stuff, thank you for all of the information that your post provided. Were I not so challenged on a computer I would try to find ways to show you and others the helmets I speak of. My Southern California Sun helmet has the logo inside the clear shell as well as my Detroit Lions. On the Lions, the only thing outside the shell is the player's number. Although rare as I was in the process of replying to a collector about a potential purchase of the one I have (and considered a keeper) I managed to find another one, so take heart, they are out there. I also have been offered a clear shell Minnesota Vikings which I will probably buy or trade for.
Pricing is such a sticky wicket unless there were two items so identical. In the end price is a function of what the seller wants to sell it for and the buyer wants to pay for it I guess.
It is interesting to see the fluctuation in pricing on some of the helmets you have shown and once again Robert I thank you for adding to my education, your comments are both valued and appreciated.
Larry Pelliccioni

aeneas01
10-06-2008, 02:53 AM
for the most part all clear shell helmets had the decaling (side logos and stripes) underneath the transparent shell and the rear numbers were usually applied to the outside of the shell. if the rear numbers were appiled to the inside of the shell then the helmet could not be recycled and used by a different player with a different number. yet, having said that, i do have a nebraska clear shell with the number applied to the inside of the shell.

earl campbell was known to have worn a clear shell longhorns helmet with the longhorn decals applied to the outside. but imo this was probably a replacement helmet, just a plain white clear shell that the em was able to get his hands on quickly and apply decals to. but you are right - the sc sun helmets i showed above have the decals applied to the exterior of the shell - but he lions helmet has the decals applied to the inside.

glad to hear that there are other lions clear shells out there - as i've mentioned i've only ever seen one - a little surprising considering the lions were a team that embraced the clear shell and many lions players wore it.

btw i would love to see a photo of the vikings clear shell - that thing should be a real beauty! not to mention extremely rare! if you do end up trading for it please email me a few photos of it! if you are indeed as computer challenged as you say, i will walk you through the process!

drj:

you were dead on as far as what these helmets usually fetch - you were also dead on regarding condition. the interior leather padding of these helmets (kelley and maxpro) are attached to the shell with tiny plastic pegs which often break. it's not uncommon to see clear shells with broken pegs (resulting in loose padding) or missing padding - such helmets obviously don't fetch as much as those with perfectly intact padding. also, the clear shells were around during the dungard facemask era - it's not uncommon to see a clear shell hit the market with a classic original dungard. these tend to fetch even more.

...

DrJ
10-06-2008, 09:04 AM
Thanks aeneas, yes looking at your examples it looks like $900-$1,200 will get you a nice clear shell most of the time. I was surprised to see that the WFL helmet was quite a bit lower in price. FYI - the Texas A&M example you show is one that I had owned and sold. Take care.

aeneas01
10-10-2008, 12:49 AM
the forum's own larry pelliccioni was kind enough to email me photos of some of his beautiful clear shells for my database but, i have to say, it would be a crime not to share these gems with you guys...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/lp1.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/lp2.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/lp3.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/lp4.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/lp5.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/lp6.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/lp7.jpg

...

aeneas01
10-19-2008, 07:47 AM
someone got a nice deal on a michigan clear shell (kelley) gamer...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=260296869894#ebayphotohosting

...

princip
10-20-2008, 08:42 AM
Just thought I would share some pics of my Seahawks Joe Washington clear shell project. Because, this I believe is the only Seahawks Kelley clear shell in existance. Of course, Joe Washington never played for the Seahawks, yet, if he did, this is probably what his helmet would have looked like, however, with a royal blue facemask.

http://www.greenglare.com/images/kcs1.jpg

http://www.greenglare.com/images/kcs3.jpg

http://www.greenglare.com/images/kcs5.jpg

aeneas01
10-20-2008, 01:17 PM
hello michael - i remember reading about you and your helmet at uniwatch earlier in the year, it was a nice write up. do you happen to know jeff fedenko and ray lusk? like you, jeff and ray do an absolutely wonderful job reconditioning clear shell helmets, artsists really. for those forum members interested in clear shells and michael's work, here's a link to the uniwatch article...

http://www.uniwatchblog.com/2008/04/07/washington-monument/

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/uw.jpg


btw here's a beautiful and ultra-rare washington redskins clear shell macgregor gamer that recently sold on ebay - the seller ended his auction early and, when i contacted him, told me that he had accepted $250 for it. someone got a very nice deal...


http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/cswr.jpg

.....

princip
10-20-2008, 06:30 PM
Thanks Robert. I did get in touch with Jeff Fedenko, he had some questions about the waterslide decal process, since, he does all of his helmets with thin reverse adhesive decals. A lot more expensive, however, a lot less labor intensive.

Thank you for posting that Redskins clear shell, I am on the hunt for one myself. Can't believe he ended that early at $250, with an original Dungard too. :eek:

BTW, I am working up a website for some of my other projects and collectables. Mostly Redskins and Seahawks items. I will post a link when I get things up and running.

I will be lurking around here more often as well. Great resource.

John in KY
10-21-2008, 08:37 PM
btw here's a beautiful and ultra-rare washington redskins clear shell macgregor gamer that recently sold on ebay - the seller ended his auction early and, when i contacted him, told me that he had accepted $250 for it. someone got a very nice deal...


http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/cswr.jpg

.....

Well it probably went for $250 because I don't believe it is a Washington Redskins helmet. It is missing the two white stripes which would also be under the shell like the yellow center stripe and the logos. The color appears to be too dark - more like the Spear or Feather helmets from the 1960s than the burgundy helmets used starting in 1972.

I suspect it is a college or high school helmet for a team named the Redskins, but not from the NFL's Washington Redskins.

princip
10-22-2008, 11:11 AM
Well it probably went for $250 because I don't believe it is a Washington Redskins helmet. It is missing the two white stripes which would also be under the shell like the yellow center stripe and the logos. The color appears to be too dark - more like the Spear or Feather helmets from the 1960s than the burgundy helmets used starting in 1972.

I suspect it is a college or high school helmet for a team named the Redskins, but not from the NFL's Washington Redskins.

Yep, good call. On second look, that must be the case. However, more/better pics are needed.

aeneas01
10-23-2008, 07:23 PM
i don't think the lack of white striping rules the helmet out as an authentic redskins lid - imo the clear shell could very well be the real deal from the early 70s (1972, 1973). the side "profile" logos appear to be nothing other than authentic and, although difficult to tell from the photo, the color shade is accurate.

when the redskins introduced their new helmet style in 1972, many (all?) of these lids were fitted with a single factory applied yellow stripe, no white stripes. in fact it appears to me that the addition of white striping may have even been an afterthought, a last minute change to an original design that included just a single stripe as featured on their previous helmets. whatever the case, riddell did eventually add factory installed white stripping as evidenced by the "riddell" heat stamp applied over the striping.

but it would be interesting to know exactly what went on with the redskins new helmet design in 1972 - not only does it appear that white stripes were added after the fact, but many, many photos from 1972 show the yellow stripe applied above the rivets as early as the start of the 1972 season. this is odd because one would expect to see factory applied yellow striping, with rivets showing, on these new helmets. could it be that many of the helmets the redskins wore in 1972 were actually their yellow helmets painted maroon and fitted with yellow striping that covered the rivets? curtis at helmethut is a huge redskins fan and is probably the best person around able to shed more light on this - i've contacted him and will share anything he offers.

here are a few photos of early redskins helmets that show the white striping above the riddell heat stamp, stripes that were not factory installed. and a redskins helmet without white striping (saturated with tobacco smoke) such as the clear shell...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/wr4.jpg


speaking of the redskins new helmet design introduced in 1972, there's an interesting story behind it - especially in terms of "political correctness". from the "redskins encyclopedia" by michael richman:

an enduring logo: in the early 1970s, walter "blackie" wetzel, president of the national congress of american indians and chairman of the blackfoot tribe, urged the redskins to replace the "r" logo on their helmets with the head of an indian chief. from photos he presented to the redskins officials of indian chiefs in full headdress, a composite was developed that gave birth to a new logo on redskins helmets in the 1972 season. it exists to this day. i said' "i'd like to see an indian on your helmets," wetzel said in the washington post on january 26, 2002. "it made us all so proud to have an indian on a big-team... it's only a small group of radicals who oppose those names, indians are proud of indians."

"blackie" passed away in 2003 at the age 88.
http://www.queencitynews.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1826

...

John in KY
10-24-2008, 10:29 AM
i don't think the lack of white striping rules the helmet out as an authentic redskins lid - imo the clear shell could very well be the real deal from the early 70s (1972, 1973). the side "profile" logos appear to be nothing other than authentic and, although difficult to tell from the photo, the color shade is accurate.

when the redskins introduced their new helmet style in 1972, many (all?) of these lids were fitted with a single factory applied yellow stripe, no white stripes. in fact it appears to me that the addition of white striping may have even been an afterthought, a last minute change to an original design that included just a single stripe as featured on their previous helmets. whatever the case, riddell did eventually add factory installed white stripping as evidenced by the "riddell" heat stamp applied over the striping.

but it would be interesting to know exactly what went on with the redskins new helmet design in 1972 - not only does it appear that white stripes were added after the fact, but many, many photos from 1972 show the yellow stripe applied above the rivets as early as the start of the 1972 season. this is odd because one would expect to see factory applied yellow striping, with rivets showing, on these new helmets. could it be that many of the helmets the redskins wore in 1972 were actually their yellow helmets painted maroon and fitted with yellow striping that covered the rivets? curtis at helmethut is a huge redskins fan and is probably the best person around able to shed more light on this - i've contacted him and will share anything he offers.

here are a few photos of early redskins helmets that show the white striping above the riddell heat stamp, stripes that were not factory installed. and a redskins helmet without white striping (saturated with tobacco smoke) such as the clear shell...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/wr4.jpg


speaking of the redskins new helmet design introduced in 1972, there's an interesting story behind it - especially in terms of "political correctness". from the "redskins encyclopedia" by michael richman:

an enduring logo: in the early 1970s, walter "blackie" wetzel, president of the national congress of american indians and chairman of the blackfoot tribe, urged the redskins to replace the "r" logo on their helmets with the head of an indian chief. from photos he presented to the redskins officials of indian chiefs in full headdress, a composite was developed that gave birth to a new logo on redskins helmets in the 1972 season. it exists to this day. i said' "i'd like to see an indian on your helmets," wetzel said in the washington post on january 26, 2002. "it made us all so proud to have an indian on a big-team... it's only a small group of radicals who oppose those names, indians are proud of indians."

"blackie" passed away in 2003 at the age 88.
http://www.queencitynews.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1826

...

I never knew that the 1972 factory-fresh Riddell's didn't have the white striping; in that case then that Macgregor is certainly old enough to have come from that era. I've never seen one that didn't have the white stripes, so I assumed that the Macgregor would have been like the Joe Washington Kelley's on Curtis's site where all decals and striping were under the shell.

aeneas01
10-26-2008, 08:03 AM
I never knew that the 1972 factory-fresh Riddell's didn't have the white striping; in that case then that Macgregor is certainly old enough to have come from that era. I've never seen one that didn't have the white stripes, so I assumed that the Macgregor would have been like the Joe Washington Kelley's on Curtis's site where all decals and striping were under the shell.

by the time joe washington joined the redskins, the skins had been sporting their "new" design for 10 years and factory stripes had generally become the norm. and, of course, macgregor had quit the helmet business by then. the joe washington "kelley" lid featured at helmut hut you mention is a real beauty, a real beauty - hh has also provided a great read (as usual) along with the photos. anyway, as i mentioned, it would be interesting to know the details about the changeover in helmet design - if in fact the white stripes were an afterthought.

for many helmet helmet collectors, including myself, clear shells are special. but when evaluating these things they always warrant a closer look given their uniqueness and the fact that decals were commonly applied to both the inside and outside of the shell.

for example, one might feel compelled to quickly disqualify an earl campbell longhorns "gamer" appearing at auction if the steer (bevo) decals were applied to the outside of the shell. but campbell did indeed wear just that at times - a clear shell macgregor with the decals applied to the exterior even though texas generally wore clear shells with the decals applied to the interior. the same goes for terry bradshaw - he wore a clear shell max pro for a while when with the steelers. at times the decals were applied to the exterior of the shell and at times the decals were applied to the inside of the shell.

and then there's the back of the helmet number thing - generally numbers were applied to the exterior of clear shells for obvious reasons. but there were helmets that had the numbers applied to the interior - i own one such helmet, a nebraska gamer. speaking of clear shells, there are a couple of nice ones currently listed on ebay although they appear to be salesman samples as opposed to gamers..


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=270290953396

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=270290942762

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MERCS5000
04-22-2009, 10:19 AM
Here Are Some Photos Of A Couple Of Reproductions Ive Done. The Saints Helmet Sold For 900.00 On Ebay, I Still Own The Rebs Helmet. Ive Also Done Dallas,and Pitt Helmets. I Always Sell These Helmets With Full Discloser That They Are Original Reproductions. Sadly I Have Seen Some Of My Repros Relisted On Ebay As Original Gamers. Buyers Beware. Ray

yosef777
04-22-2009, 03:32 PM
Have to admit I think Ray is the master restorer. (No disrespect to Michael Pricep's Seahawks helmet.) I have seen Ray's helmets first hand and they are perfect. In fact that is one way to recognize them as repos because they are better than the Mac/Kelley/MaxPro factory produced : )
I too, have had ebayers relist helmets I recently sold and try to pass them off as salesman samples, gamers, etc. and I also reached out to the buyer (and fellow collector) to give him a heads up. Definitely a buyers beware on ebay.
Too bad those types are part of the hobby : (
Dr. J that A&M is a real nice one too didn't know I bought it from you.
Finally, I agree that Vikings is a beauty, thanks for the pics.

yosef777
04-22-2009, 03:35 PM
Joe Washington / Colts / Kelley repo

aeneas01
04-22-2009, 04:57 PM
Have to admit I think Ray is the master restorer...

imo both of you guys do absolutely outstanding work on your clearshells and i've sung your praises in the past at the forum - just beautiful reproductions. further, it's great that you have both joined the forum! btw ray, do you approach your clearshells in the same manner as yosef, do you glue the rivets in place? or have you figured out a way to re-rivet the suspension padding as was done by macgregor?

...

princip
04-23-2009, 08:11 AM
Have to admit I think Ray is the master restorer. (No disrespect to Michael Pricep's Seahawks helmet.) I have seen Ray's helmets first hand and they are perfect. In fact that is one way to recognize them as repos because they are better than the Mac/Kelley/MaxPro factory produced : )
I too, have had ebayers relist helmets I recently sold and try to pass them off as salesman samples, gamers, etc. and I also reached out to the buyer (and fellow collector) to give him a heads up. Definitely a buyers beware on ebay.
Too bad those types are part of the hobby : (
Dr. J that A&M is a real nice one too didn't know I bought it from you.
Finally, I agree that Vikings is a beauty, thanks for the pics.

Thank you for the compliment on my Seahawks clear shell, however, there is no comparison when it comes to the work you and Ray do on these clear shells. Oh man, that Colts lid with the white BD-9, and that Saints Kelley clear shell with the ultra cool 3 XL JOP mask are two of the nicest clear shells I have ever seen.

I have only one small request; better resolution/pics on that Colts helmet.

MERCS5000
04-27-2009, 04:09 PM
I Do My Rivets Like Jeff. I Think You Could Get Curtis At Helmet Hut To Rivet In The Padding But I Think Jeff Will Agree That With Cracking Problems That Clear Shells Always Had Its Not Worth The Risk.

MERCS5000
04-27-2009, 04:32 PM
I Do My Rivets Like Jeff. I Think You Could Get Curtis At Helmet Hut To Rivet In The Padding But I Think Jeff Will Agree That With Cracking Problems That Clear Shells Always Had Its Not Worth The Risk.


THANKS FOR THE PRAISE JEFF. YOUR VERY KIND

I THOUGHT SOMEBODY MIGHT ENJOY THIS PHOTO. 4 BRAND NEW OLD STOCK MACGREGOR MH 100'S SIZE 8'S WHAT A FIND.

princip
04-28-2009, 09:36 AM
THANKS FOR THE PRAISE JEFF. YOUR VERY KIND

I THOUGHT SOMEBODY MIGHT ENJOY THIS PHOTO. 4 BRAND NEW OLD STOCK MACGREGOR MH 100'S SIZE 8'S WHAT A FIND.

Only thing that would make that Mac MH100 lot better is if they were unpainted. Very nice!

aeneas01
04-28-2009, 05:47 PM
princip - my sincerest apologies for not giving you kudos as well on your great clearshell work! but i did post a link on the forum many months ago to the great write uni watch did on your helmet!

mercs5000 - i wonder if we picked our helmets up from the same guy? i have two that are identical, size 8, and packed with all of the original material as well! it's probably been two years since i picked them up and they've been sitting here ever since...

...

aeneas01
04-29-2009, 04:28 AM
Only thing that would make that Mac MH100 lot better is if they were unpainted. Very nice!

here's one ready to go!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/DSC00068.jpg

and here's a beauty on display at the hall....

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/IMG_0671.jpg

....

princip
04-29-2009, 08:25 AM
princip - my sincerest apologies for not giving you kudos as well on your great clearshell work! but i did post a link on the forum many months ago to the great write uni watch did on your helmet!

mercs5000 - i wonder if we picked our helmets up from the same guy? i have two that are identical, size 8, and packed with all of the original material as well! it's probably been two years since i picked them up and they've been sitting here ever since...

...

Thanks Robert. I remember your props on the uniwatch writeup. In fact my response, within that thread, was my first post on this site. I think I was googling clear shell helmets and found the GUU. So happy I did.

BTW, that pic. you attached of the clean and ready to go clearshell has inspired me. I think for this next go around I'll take the Fedenko decal approach, as opposed to using the high maintenance water slide decals. I'm sure it was a lot easier for Kelley and co. to make the waterslide, yet, for a home project there are just too many steps in the process; i.e. getting the colors right, test prints, priming the decals(white not printable), 3M spray coat protectant......etc.

MERCS5000
04-29-2009, 10:25 AM
princip - my sincerest apologies for not giving you kudos as well on your great clearshell work! but i did post a link on the forum many months ago to the great write uni watch did on your helmet!

mercs5000 - i wonder if we picked our helmets up from the same guy? i have two that are identical, size 8, and packed with all of the original material as well! it's probably been two years since i picked them up and they've been sitting here ever since...

...
sorry dont remember who i got them from

G1X
05-03-2009, 07:32 PM
Here are some pictures of my WFL Birmingham Americans clear-shell MacGregor helmet of Paul Robinson (1968 AFL-Rookie of the Year when he played for the Cincinnati Bengals). Most of the Americans wore Riddell, but a few such as Robinson wore MacGregor clear shells. Robinson wore this helmet until mid-way in the season when it got cracked behind the left ear hole (see photos). He switched to a Riddell at that point.

Note that the Americans applied the stripes, logos, and small number decals (below the ear holes) on the outside shell of the helmet. Also note in the last two photos that on this particular helmet, they put Robinson's name in dymo-tape under each earhole on the inside of the helmet. However, I have seen Americans helmets with dymo tape only on one side, and I have another Americans helmet of a player who was there the whole year (as was Robinson) that does not have any dymo tape ID in the helmet (but does have the number decals on the outside under each ear hole).

Everything is original on this helmet except the four clips that hold the facemask in place. As is the case with many helmets from that era, they dry-rotted and had to be replaced. Charlie Waters, perhaps the most knowledgeable "unknown" helmet guru out there (along with Bob Drzewiecki), was kind enough to provide me with the proper matching grey clips.

I am not much of a helmet collector as I only have a few in my collection, but I love this style of helmet. Unfortunately, they look much better than they protected. I wore this style when I first started playing semi-pro ball in 1977, and after getting drilled upside the head and seeing stars while catching a pass over the middle in my first game, I quickly went out and bought a Bike which offered a lot more protection. I wore that Bike until I "retired" after the 1982 season.

The MacGregor ended up with one of my teammates who was one of the best athletes on our team. He took a blind-side shot to the head while covering a punt and ended up with a bad concussion. He never played again. I don't know whatever happened to that helmet as I didn't think too much about it back in those days other than it wasn't the most protective helmet on the market.

My long-time hobby friend of over 30 years, Larry Pelliccioni, asked about the value of clear shell helmets and Birmingham Americans helmets in the opening post of this thread. Being that the Americans are my all-time favorite football team and the clear shells being my favorite visual style, I can honestly say "priceless" as I will part this world before I part with this helmet.

Enjoy the photos!

Mark Hayne
Gridiron Exchange
gixc@verizon.net

Always looking for WFL and Atlanta Falcons Jerseys

kgredin1
08-11-2009, 02:14 PM
the forum's own larry pelliccioni was kind enough to email me photos of some of his beautiful clear shells for my database but, i have to say, it would be a crime not to share these gems with you guys...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/lp1.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/lp2.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/lp3.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/lp4.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/lp5.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/lp6.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/aeneas1/lp7.jpg

...

Gorgeous helmets!

montehorton@cox.net
12-31-2016, 07:44 PM
I know it's a while back but those are beautiful helmets! wow...

mine are posted now at thehelmetproject.net

Thanks,
Monte