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bgakladd
01-14-2014, 11:34 PM
I am looking for help on this old 1960's Oakland Raiders helmet I bought on Ebay this past Sunday afternoon. It is on it's way and I haven't got it yet, but it sure looks like it could quite possibly be Daryle Lamonica's 1968 AFL Championship helmet from when the Raiders played the Jets on Dec. 29, 1968. I will be able to tell better when I get it but from the sellers photos it looks like it matches up pretty good. Also I noticed Lamonica seemed to have worn 2 different helmets in this game as one has the little Raiders decal on it and other photos show a helmet without the emblem. I also have found other game photos with this same little emblem on the stripe. Getty Images photo #98414800 seems to be the best for comparison. Anybody have any opinions?? I will get more photos when I get the helmet. Pics for comparison with the Ebay photos for right now. bgakladd@aol.com

RKO18
01-14-2014, 11:50 PM
Here are two images of Lamonica, I'm not certain of the dates:

http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r504/gameworncollector/lamonica2.jpg

http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r504/gameworncollector/lamonica1.jpg

bgakladd
01-14-2014, 11:55 PM
Can you find any photos from the AFL Championship game against the Jets. The GI photo looks real close, #98414800 where he is wearing the black jacket. Didn't post that photo because of copyright deal.

BrianK
01-15-2014, 12:25 AM
Whatever it turns out to be, it looks like an amazing purchase. Congratulations!

JDubbs73
01-15-2014, 08:03 AM
The GI photo looks real close, #98414800 where he is wearing the black jacket. Didn't post that photo because of copyright deal.
I think you're on the right track. Along with the identifiers you have already mentioned, there is a linear marking near the holes of the crown's right side that appears to be a spot on match to the photo you cite.

It will be nice to learn more once you have the helmet in hand.

genius
01-15-2014, 09:31 AM
Purchase of the century! Congratulations!!!

gorilla777
01-15-2014, 09:22 PM
Very cool helmet! Love that vintage look, nice pickup

yanks12025
01-15-2014, 09:38 PM
I'm curious did it already have a buy it now or you offer that amount?

bgakladd
01-15-2014, 10:03 PM
It had a buy it now price. The listing must of just came on as I got on Ebay. The listing showed 2 people viewing it and at a quick glance I either took a shot at it or lose it. Took forever to go thru Paypal checkout and thought somebody would get it but luckily it went thru fast enough. Got very lucky.

speedkills21
01-16-2014, 07:11 PM
Congrats! Great pickup. btw: The 1969 season is the year Lamonica had the little Raider shield on the front of the helmet.

bgakladd
01-16-2014, 09:01 PM
I will check the date code to see what year it is from when I get it. I know Helmet Hut has a 1969 helmet in their collection. A lot of the players wore their helmets for more than one year I believe. Getty Images might even have the wrong date on the photo that shows the same helmet. I will try to do more follow up to see how many and what years it was worn. Hoping to find pre 1969 helmet photos before the little Raiders decal was put on. Should have the helmet Friday I hope.

bgakladd
01-17-2014, 12:18 AM
Found another photo stating he wore this helmet in 1967. Will try to find out more photos. This photo, although a little small, seems consistant with the Getty Photo I first mentioned that they say he is wearing in 1968. You can see the little Raiders emblem and the same hit marks. The helmet does look like it has more than one year's worth of use on it.

bgakladd
01-17-2014, 07:46 PM
Got the Lamonica helmet today...looks great. Not able to post pics yet because of work but here is a brief description. Riddell Kra Lite RAC-K2 Aero-Cell helmet. Date is 1968. Has the 12 point suspension minus the crown pad. Jaw pads missing, and as expected no facemask. Strip of tape pulled off that can clearly be seen on the inside back of the helmet, guessing his name on tape was applied there then removed at some point. Outside of the helmet shows tremendous wear, and lines up perfect with every pic that shows him wearing the little Raiders decal in front. Transfer mark colors show white, green, red and a heavy blue/green color near the back #3. Thanks SPEEDKILL21 for pointing out the 1969 year, I'm sticking with most use coming from that year, and that was still an AFL playoff year, and a big game against Buffalo with 6 TD passes. Lamonica had another MVP season this year too.

bgakladd
01-17-2014, 10:41 PM
Late 1960's Daryle Lamonica Raiders Helmet

JDubbs73
01-17-2014, 11:28 PM
Just read through the updates and saw the photos...congrats! It's a beautiful helmet.

bgakladd
01-17-2014, 11:37 PM
Thank you. I can remember my first football card, a Daryle Lamonica 1970 3-D card pulled from a box of Corn Flakes. I was hooked on Lamonica and the Raiders ever since. Never thought I would ever own one of his helmets. Should I leave the helmet as is or can it be restored by someone like HelmetHut to put back the parts that are missing? I myself have no problems keeping it like it is but would like to see a facemask put back on....open for suggestions.

Phil316
01-18-2014, 12:34 AM
Nice piece. I would leave it untouched. If anything try and find the year and style facemask.

yosef777
01-18-2014, 07:26 AM
Fantastic piece and quite rare to see a RAC K2 with all its Aero Cell padding intact! I would recommend that IF you do anything to it, restoration wise, make sure it is reversible and not a permanent change. Things like adding a vintage, two bar face mask but using the drill holes already there or snapping in a pair of well worn, leather jaw pads would be considered reversible and would not affect value in the long term.

JDubbs73
01-18-2014, 08:33 AM
I agree. If you can find vintage replacement parts and not disturb the integrity of the helmet, then go for it. Just always bear in mind that it's an amazing piece "as is".

tom1315
01-18-2014, 10:12 AM
Incredible pickup! Very nice gamer. I echo what one other said…if you can work with Curtis at Helmet Hut…find the correct face mask and clips for the period and use the existing holes for mounting I'd do so. For me a helmet without a face mask is like wearing a undershirt (t-shirt) without my dress shirt…maybe a silly analogy but for me…something is missing on a helmet without the face mask.

Again congrats on a very nice addition to your collection and l love the photos you've found too!

Tom

Go Pack! NC State 1981 alumni

bgakladd
01-18-2014, 04:09 PM
Found something I didn't see before on the striping on back, there is an outline of the number 3 on the black stripe between the 2 rear rivets. The number 3 outline is 2" tall and 3/8" thick. Hard to get a good pic to show what I'm talking about but why would Lamonica have a number back there? The photo that I put at the beginning of this post that is black and white kinda shows what looks like a white number. It is against the Jets in 1968. Anybody got any ideas? Also looks like the side decals were replaced at one time and lowered a little bit, faint outline is visible. Remember it has the 1968 date in the helmet and photo matching for the 1969 year with the little Raider decal on front. The number on the back stripe confuses me. Need help, anybody know why??

bgakladd
01-18-2014, 05:29 PM
Wow, never knew, he did wear a white-ish colored number on the back. Found a 1968 Raider-Jets regular season game from November 17, 1968.

bgakladd
01-18-2014, 06:25 PM
I didn't even see the area where the decal was pulled back and fresher silver paint area off to the left of the black decal where the number 3 was. Has 2 distinct decal edge line impression. Almost positive it is the 1968 Heidi game helmet. If so, wow.

akrover
01-18-2014, 06:57 PM
Almost positive it is the 1968 Heidi game helmet. If so, wow.

Understatement of the century :D

Not many scores better than this.

genius
01-18-2014, 08:23 PM
If you're a Raiders fan, don't sell it! If you're not...$$$$$$$$! Either way, congratulations again on a once-in-a-lifetime score!

bgakladd
01-19-2014, 05:04 PM
Another photo of the Daryle Lamonica 1968-1969 game worn Oakland Raiders helmet. Here is a little bit better pic of the decal marks that are like the location of the decal he is wearing in the Heidi game photo from November 17, 1968. The glue residue is clearly there and parts of the #3 are very visible on the black tape when the helmet is seen in person. The highlight games with this helmet seem to be the Heidi game against the Jets and AFL playoffs in 1968 and the little Raiders decal added in 1969 with noteable games with Buffalo (6 TD passes) and also the 1969 AFL playoffs, with an MVP year in 1969.

miracleonice80
01-30-2014, 01:30 AM
Wow....cool! Awesome Raider relic!

bgakladd
09-13-2014, 03:18 PM
It took awhile, but I finally got the 1968-69 Daryle Lamonica Oakland Raiders football helmet back in shape. Thanks to Curtis at HelmetHut for some of the parts I needed! Looks just like the day he last wore it. Now to decide what to do with it.

speedkills21
09-15-2014, 04:38 PM
bgakladd send me an email at lsraider@bellsouth.net

steelerman_7
09-15-2014, 04:53 PM
Not a Raiders fan, but what an unbelievable piece of history! Congrats on the purchase. I am still waiting for the day I run into something like that!!!

icollectDCsports
09-15-2014, 05:06 PM
Just a great story and a great helmet. Unless you're planning to keep it, you may want to consign to Goldin Auctions.

miracleonice80
09-19-2014, 12:24 AM
Glad you finished it off with the mask! Great job! I am in a similar situation....I just got the 60's Vikings helmet that is posted under "Auction Item" discussion. I need a period correct mask and jaw pads......I have a good idea what I need......congrats once again! Tony

helmets
09-19-2014, 07:15 AM
Congrats Tony. Nice Vikings. You earned that one...

bgakladd
09-19-2014, 10:11 AM
Glad you finished it off with the mask! Great job! I am in a similar situation....I just got the 60's Vikings helmet that is posted under "Auction Item" discussion. I need a period correct mask and jaw pads......I have a good idea what I need......congrats once again! Tony

Thanks Tony, hoping you have the fun with photo matching and locating a same style facemask for your helmet that Tinglehoff wore. I know I did on Lamonica's helmet. Barry

miracleonice80
09-20-2014, 01:20 AM
It is proving to be tough and challenging.....he changed masks a lot over the years. It is fun, though.....Tony