Need help/opinions on this helmet

[Jags Fan Dan]

Re: Need help/opinions on this helmet

Looks like this helmet made the rounds once before as a 1997-1998 helmet, for which the numeral on the back is entirely incorrect:
http://www.americanmemorabilia.com/Auction_Item.asp?Auction_ID=22689

[Jags Fan Dan]

Re: Need help/opinions on this helmet

For example here is a photo from December, 1996. It seems that even from a distance, one can safely say these are brass colored screws:

[Jags Fan Dan]

Re: Need help/opinions on this helmet

In 2001 he wore a helmet that at first glance looks similar to the one offered on eBay, as shown below. The problem then becomes that the helmet being offered is an older style and the numeral on the back would look like the ones in the second picture I have attached.

[Jags Fan Dan]

Re: Need help/opinions on this helmet

Prob is most photos are too far away and black screws would blend into the helmet and not be noticeable.

Actually, as the screws go into a white piece, I think the black screws would stand out even from photos taken from a distance. In re-reviewing the photos on getty images from 01-01-1995 to 01-01-1997, I feel that I can safely say there are no photos that depict Brunell in a helmet that appears to have black screws on the front, and I can say with near certainty there are at least 8 games in that time span where the helmet has brass colored screws. That, coupled with the seller's lack of response regarding my questions, makes me feel uneasy about dropping a large sum of cash on this particluar helmet. There is no way I would buy a game used helmet that cannot be style matched.

[mvandor]

Re: Need help/opinions on this helmet

I have found no photos with Brunell wearing a helmet with black screws in either 1995 or 1996.

Prob is most photos are too far away and black screws would blend into the helmet and not be noticeable.

[Jags Fan Dan]

Re: Need help/opinions on this helmet

Still no response from the seller regarding the LOA or the issue with the screws on the helmet. I guess I will have to pass on this one.

[Jags Fan Dan]

Re: Need help/opinions on this helmet

Just to be clear - I have seen pictures of Brunell with black facemask screws. It just looks like the picture you are showing above has brass screws and if this is the case then it is not an exact photo match. But that's just for that one picture. I wouldn't let the screws themselves scare me away if I were interested in the helmet. Keep looking for photo-matches and maybe this will turn out to be the gem you've been looking for - best of luck as I'm sure the helmet would mean alot to you.

The problem is I have looked into it, studying a bunch of photos and even going through my football cards, and the black screws are a major problem on this helmet, in my findings. The helmet is purported to be from 1995. I have found no photos with Brunell wearing a helmet with black screws in either 1995 or 1996. And as I posted above, after 1996 the numbers on the back of the Jaguars helmets became just plain gold numerals, with no borders or other colors. To style match this helmet, you would have to find a photo from 1995 or 1996 showing Brunell wearing a helmet with black screws, and I simply can't find one. Therefore, at the absolute least, I can only conclude in my unprofessional opinion that if this is a legit game used helmet, it is no longer completely comprised of its original components.

[DrJ]

Re: Need help/opinions on this helmet

Just to be clear - I have seen pictures of Brunell with black facemask screws. It just looks like the picture you are showing above has brass screws and if this is the case then it is not an exact photo match. But that's just for that one picture. I wouldn't let the screws themselves scare me away if I were interested in the helmet. Keep looking for photo-matches and maybe this will turn out to be the gem you've been looking for - best of luck as I'm sure the helmet would mean alot to you.

[Jags Fan Dan]

Re: Need help/opinions on this helmet

If the groove of the scratch was deep enough the marker would skip over it. It looks fairly deep to me.

Agreed. After looking back over it, that appears to be what happened. Seller has still not responded to any of my emails.

[mvandor]

Re: Need help/opinions on this helmet

Another thing that seems odd in reviewing the photos for the ebay listing, one of the scuffs appears to go through the autograph. Now, how would that happen? Obviously, Mark wasn't wearing an autographed helmet in a game. So that scuff obviously did not happen while the helmet was in use.

If the groove of the scratch was deep enough the marker would skip over it. It looks fairly deep to me.

[Jags Fan Dan]

Re: Need help/opinions on this helmet

Well, I have looked at a ton of pics, and I simply cannot style match this helmet. By the time Brunell had any helmets with black screws on the front, the number on the back was just gold, not teal and gold like this one. The last year for the rear number like this helmet was 1996. No photos I found from 1996 or 1995 show any helmets with the black screws on the front of the helmet. They are all brass colored. If anyone has any further comments or observations, please post!

[Jags Fan Dan]

Re: Need help/opinions on this helmet

Another thing that seems odd in reviewing the photos for the ebay listing, one of the scuffs appears to go through the autograph. Now, how would that happen? Obviously, Mark wasn't wearing an autographed helmet in a game. So that scuff obviously did not happen while the helmet was in use.

[aeneas01]

Re: Need help/opinions on this helmet

This photo from 1995 appears to have the holes as depicted in the photos above:

i don't know.... the small dots appear to be a reflection to me. stadium lights, box windows, some sort of reflection...

[Jags Fan Dan]

Re: Need help/opinions on this helmet

I just emailed Joe again asking if I can see a copy of the LOA and also asking about the issue with the screws on the front of the helmet. I'll elt you know if I get a response.

[Jags Fan Dan]

Re: Need help/opinions on this helmet

Also, good catch DrJ on the screws being brass colored instead of black. Just another question mark on this item.