Rare fire helmet collection to be auctioned

The collection includes a helmet from the private fire brigade of Huntley and Palmer's biscuit factory (far left)

Rare and historic fire helmets from around the world collected by a former Kent firefighter are to be auctioned.

Jack Field, from Marden, is selling 119 items, some of which are over 100 years old.

Mr Field said he had decided to part with his collection, which he spent 40 years assembling, because he is downsizing.

They will go under the hammer individually at Bentley’s Fine Art Auctioneers in Cranbrook.

Auctioneer Robin Fletcher said: "We've got helmets from all four corners of the world, from every continent and all of Europe, dating back to the late 1800s.

"The oldest one is (from)1885 and the newest 2010.

"There's one from the Huntley and Palmers biscuit factory fire brigade from the days when there was no National Fire Service.

"Companies had their own fire services and this one is very, very sought after.

"There's another from the late 19th century - a Siebe Gorman smoke helmet complete with opening windows and breathing tubes.”

The collection includes this rare example with built in breathing tubes

Mr Field was a retained firefighter in Marden for 18 years, serving from 1970, becoming a driver and sub officer.

He began his collection in 1973, starting with a brass helmet that had belonged to a colleague's father-in-law from the Wadhurst fire brigade.

His collection eventually included examples from Argentina, Japan, USA and elsewhere in Europe.

Jack Field's collection has taken over 40 years to accumulate

There is one helmet Mr Field will be keeping hold of.

It is the Kent Fire Brigade helmet he wore during his time as a firefighter.