3 ms·
This article starts in 1919 but I would assume that wearing hats to protect one's head mechanically (opposed to thermally) has been a tradition since hats were
by agurk 7y ago
This article starts in 1919 but I would assume that wearing hats to protect one's head mechanically (opposed to thermally) has been a tradition since hats were invented. While the hat mentioned in the article is a definite milestone, I wouldn't say it's the starting point for protective hats.
Checking wikipedia I see bowler hats were first created in 1849, and from the article[0]:
[the manufacturers had] been commissioned by a customer to design a close-fitting, low-crowned hat to protect gamekeepers from low-hanging branches while on horseback at Holkham Hall
A traditional bowler is a very sturdy piece of equipment and I could believe the afforded good protection for their day and is very much in the spirit of a modern hard hat.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowler_hat https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowler_hat
- cesis 7y agoAnd firefighters definitely used helmets in 19th century
- 52-6F-62 7y agoProbably more for defense against attacks from rival companies than dangerous environments haha (off topic: http://spacing.ca/toronto/2012/10/02/the-toronto-circus-riot-of-1855-the-day-the-clowns-picked-the-wrong-toronto-brothel/ http://spacing.ca/toronto/2012/10/02/the-toronto-circus-riot...)
- NikolaeVarius 7y agoThe article isn't really talking about protective headgear in general, it seems to be specific to the origin of the modern day "hard hat", whose make and style can be directly attributed to the helmets worn in WW1.
- c22 7y agoIf you believe the movies Spartans were wearing protective hats almost 3000 years ago.