The Motorcycle Helmet

The Motorcycle Helmet : The 1930s-1990s

A historical survey of motorcycle helmet design and culture from the 1930s through the 1990s.

This comprehensive reference traces the evolution of motorcycle helmets from early leather pilot’s caps and “pudding-style” designs to molded plastic jet-age helmets and the full-coverage models introduced in the 1950s. Illustrated with full-color photography, vintage advertising, racing images, and promotional materials, the book documents technical advances, decorative styles, and cultural changes in motorcycling. Major manufacturers worldwide are represented, with examples that highlight both performance and design innovation.

Key Features:

• Full history of motorcycle helmets from the 1930s to the 1990s
• Coverage of major international helmet manufacturers
• Over 400 color photographs, vintage ads, and racing images
• Examples range from early leather caps to Bell’s 1954 full-coverage models
• Analysis of both technical construction and cultural symbolism

A definitive resource for motorcyclists, collectors, and enthusiasts of design history.

Size: 11.0in x 8.5in  |  Pages: 206  |  1000+ color & b/w photos