Franco Harris Steelers Helmet - Ebay

[beantown]

Robert,

Hello...with your helmet expertise, I was wondering if you could share your thoughts? It would be appreciated....thanks...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Franco-Harris-GAME-USED-Steelers-Helmet-1979-80-Lampson_W0QQitemZ370045194070QQihZ024QQcategoryZ86 828QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Chris

[lund6771]

I'd be interested to hear as well...

Beantown, aren't the stellar reputations of both the seller and authenticator good enough for you to bid on this?

[helmets]

Yes, Broadway Rick...
I bought a helmet from him twice - the first and the last time.

It too came with a COA from Lou. When I got it, nothing matched up - date codes. I then called the Equipment manager of the team, and he said he still had both of the helmets that this player wore, still in the teams storage.

Nice.

[beantown]

I'd be interested to hear as well...

Beantown, aren't the stellar reputations of both the seller and authenticator good enough for you to bid on this?

Yes....what makes me want to bid on this is that beautiful Lou Lampson Hologram sticker stuck on the rear of the helmet...once I saw that, there were no doubts for me

[aeneas01]

the helmet is a joke - the only positive thing that can be said about it is that it does appear to be an authentic, vintage 1978 pac-3 impregnated black lid. just the sort of item that might give a fella a few ideas...

harris wore a riddell tk suspension helmet from 1972 (his rookie year) through 1978. from 1979 through 1981 he wore a riddell cell helmet, most likely a pac-3, and then switched to a rawlings rts in 1982 which he wore during his two remaining years in pitt and his final year in seattle. he wore a schutt opo during his first two years in the league, switched to a schutt nop in 1974 and then switched to a double-wire nop when he went with the rawlings rts in 1982. prior to 1977 his facemask was gray, then the steelers switched to black facemasks. harris also wore a green dot facemask throughout his career.

issues with the helmet:

1. facemask clips are not from the correct era; they are mid 80s transparent schutt clips that have been painted/dyed black.

2. as mentioned earlier, harris wore a green dot facemask throughout his career. the facemask included in the auction is a red dot. the facemask color also appers to have been doctored.

3. harris began using extra large jaw pads when he switched to a riddell cell helmet. the jaw pads in the ad are no larger than medium.

4. harris had a large melon, wore a large suspension helmet, and therefore required a large facemask (green dot). the helmet in the ad is fitted with type-c cell padding, the thickest cell padding available, rendering the helmet very small. it is extremely hard to believe that this helmet would have fit harris.

5. the font is incorrect for the "2".

6. the steelers used white gaskets when securing the chinstrap snaps to the shell during this era. these gaskets are not present on the helmet for sale.

7. the helmet for sale is nothing more than a decent reproduction.


facemask clip comparison: top left photo - mid 80s translucent schutt clips; top right photo - same clips, painted/dyed black, on the helmet for sale. bottom two photos - correct clips.




facemask comparison: top photo - red dot facemask on helmet for sale. bottom two photos - harris's green dot facemasks...




jaw pad and font comparison: top left photo - thick font and small/medium jaw pads on the helmet for sale. other photos - correct font and jaw pads.

[Eric]

This helmet originally sold in the November 15th Vintage Authentics Auction

Lot 9 Franco Harris c.1979-80 Game Used Helmet GU7.5 $1,703.75

[aeneas01]

This helmet originally sold in the November 15th Vintage Authentics Auction

Lot 9 Franco Harris c.1979-80 Game Used Helmet GU7.5 $1,703.75

thanks for that info eric - that clearly tells me that collectors are well aware of its problems, despite lampson's loa. a "game used harris" suspension helmet sold for $10,800 a couple of years ago at one of the larger auction houses. it had a ton of problems as well but no loa if i remember correctly...

btw i will be getting back to you this week!

[shoremen44]

Awesome pictures, great research and always helpful...

I love this forum!!

[cohibasmoker]

I don't know. This Robert guy is causing trouble again. Very bad for the hobby I tell ya.

Jim

[commando]

I don't know. This Robert guy is causing trouble again. Very bad for the hobby I tell ya.

Jim

Sorry, no more Robert jokes for me. I already owe him dinner for my last bad one...