Leather helmets

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Permalink Reply by frank cuoccio on July 14, 2010 at 3:00pm

i never had a leather helemet before, my wife bought me a new yorker n5a for christmas. i love this helemet, it really is a great helmet. my son wears the morning pride ben2, which is a nother good helmet. a couple of the guys in my company have the paul conway helmet. doesnt even compare to the leather new yorker that i have,
doesnt look or fit as well as the new yorker. you can get the the new yorker for about 450 from the fire store. i have been a fireman for 34 years and the new yorker is definately the best helmet i have ever worn, i wear it with pride.

stay safe

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Permalink Reply by Michael Bricault (ret) on July 14, 2010 at 11:43pm

-I have tried the conway and I can tell you that it fits poorly, sits high on the head and just feels badly especially when compared to Cairns. If you want a great fitting and great performing leather helmet, spend the extra cash and get a Cairns. I've worn a Cairns for years and it has been a faithful friend.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Brice Turner on February 1, 2011 at 7:45pm

I just got my first New Yorker, and put a Bronx Bend in it, some of the paint came off.

What is a good paint i can use to make it look new and shine?

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Permalink Reply by Michael Bricault (ret) on February 3, 2011 at 10:28pm

-If you're gonna spend the money anyway why not just buy the real thing and buy a Cairns?

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Permalink Reply by Frozenhosehead on February 4, 2011 at 12:22pm

Dave is the one source for repair and painting leather lids. He has a procedure for redoing it once tyour lid needs a new paint job. I would use sign painters like most of us do and follow his procedures.

If you need to paint more then a small area, you might want to add a small amount of boiled linseed oil and maybe add some flex paint.

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Permalink Reply by Frozenhosehead on February 4, 2011 at 12:26pm

We have been having a problem with our Paul Conways AH's here. The insides are coming out because the glue isn't holding. I have been told many things and I think int's a combination of the design and human lack of care. For one, some of the brothers have been carrying their helmets by the strap, in a traditional leather this is not a problem but on the AH it is because the strap is only secured by a thin piece of plastic and two screws on each side since it is a break away type shell. So I think that having all the weight supported by the strap can take a toll on the rim tabs and the glue or velcro inside after time. I carry mine by the ring and have not had any issues thus far. Still love my N5A but it's in the refurb state right now and one guy who is a painter and was giving me suggestions on  painting techniques was looking at it and telling me how it looked like an antique and was made by a saddle or leather maker. So Itold him that all of the leather helmets from this company are hand made with pride in America!

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Permalink Reply by Michael Brice Turner on February 4, 2011 at 9:52pm

whats the paint calledlike how do i go anout asking for it!!

Dave LeBlanc said:

Any good quality oil based paint.  I know the Sherwin Williams is the approved paint, but I have had success with other paints. 

Michael Brice Turner said:

I just got my first New Yorker, and put a Bronx Bend in it, some of the paint came off.

What is a good paint i can use to make it look new and shine?

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Permalink Reply by Michael Brice Turner on February 4, 2011 at 10:28pm

now is that a a spray paint that i get at SW??

Michael Brice Turner said:

whats the paint calledlike how do i go anout asking for it!!

Dave LeBlanc said:

Any good quality oil based paint.  I know the Sherwin Williams is the approved paint, but I have had success with other paints. 

Michael Brice Turner said:

I just got my first New Yorker, and put a Bronx Bend in it, some of the paint came off.

What is a good paint i can use to make it look new and shine?

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Permalink Reply by Ron Becknell on February 6, 2011 at 8:48pm

I have a Cairns Sam Houston which is NFPA approved and has all of the impact protection.  I took some getting used to because of the weight but it did come with lots of foam pads to stick inside of it to make it a custom fit.  My only regret is that as an officer I had to get a white one instead of Natural, if you can the natural leather is best looking helmet of any brand.

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