Vintage FDNY Cairns Leather Fire Helmet & Front Shield, Dress Hat & Badge

Description

Vintage FDNY Cairns Leather Fire Helmet
Date Code I
Leather front shield, for Engine 331, Badge 9279
Firefighter Thomas Franklin Perkins "Toofey" (1930-2020)
Condition is "Used" as shown in photos
Headliner is clean and in excellent condition
Size is small
NOTE: a uniform dark blue dress hat size 6 7/8 with a pin on hat badge 9279 is included in the sale.
NOTE: a (metal framed) 11X14 inch color portrait of Firefighter Perkins in dress uniform is included in the sale.
International Sales permitted using the Global Shipping Program, Buyer pays those fees (Allow extra shipping time for Customs to process depending on your Country)
Payment within 48 hours or Sale is canceled
ADDED May 31st, 2021
Hi- I am taking this opportunity to provide you with some factual historical context regarding Cairns leather helmets. I am a retired Deputy Chief who came on the job in 1965. My helmet had a Cairns medallion with NO LETTER CODE. My cousin came on the job in 1967 and his letter code was "B." Our good friend came on the job in 1970 and his letter code was "E." There has been a lot of misinformation about these codes but the fact is Cairns started with "A" in 1966. Prior to that year there was no letter code. The "I" code would correspond to 1974.This fireman came on the job earlier, but this helmet was acquired in 1974.