Hello, everybody.
Today we have a request for the restoration of an original IJA flight helmet and eagle-eyed aviation goggles!
【Before restoration】
The forehead area has a section cut off of it. The Army Star is also missing.
The backing fabric had also been cut away with it.
The head adjustment strap (on the back of the helmet) has come loose from its mounting point.
The snaps are blue with rust/ corrosion and cannot be opened or closed.
The goggles have a broken thread in the velvet cushion section.
The goggles have a broken thread in the velvet cushion section.
One ring is missing. The leather part is hardened and has blue rust.
Let's have a look at the restored condition!
【After restoration】
Leather of the same material was laminated together, and the gaps between the laminated areas were colored with a hardener.
The part to be restored is the curved part of the forehead, so it was difficult to match the leather to each other.
The rust has been removed and the snaps can now be opened and closed.
The head adjustment strap has also been put back in place.
The fabric of the forehead area, which had been cut out, was also dyed to match the colour of the original fabric.
The leather and lining were then carefully stitched together.
Eagle-eyed aviation goggles made by Enomoto Optics Precision Equipment Factory.（榎本光学精機製作所）
The tear in the velvet cushion was also stitched together.
The ring on the right side was also replaced and the leather holding the ring has been softened.
The missing ring was also replaced.
Finished product.
Many objects come out of storage in a battered state and are thrown away without knowing what kind of background they have.
I think it is important for people to be able to see, touch and feel things with their own eyes and learn.
We restore valuable items in the sincere hope that as many flight helmets (and other military equipment) as possible will be handed down to future generations, as historical heritage.
We would like to thank you once again for the opportunity to restore these valuable items.
That's all for today.
See you again!
※About ordering※
We manufacture the flight helmets, oxygen masks, receivers, etc. shown in the blog. Please contact us for production orders, film-related orders, etc.
ry.oide@nifty.com