Game used, worn Washington State Cougars helmet last used during the 1977 season. The well-worn helmet is original, complete, and unaltered or modified in any way.  

Clear shell football helmets have been around for more than 80 years.  It seems that every major football helmet manufacturer has produced clear shell helmets at one time or another.  Today, they are rare, highly collectible and bring top dollar with serious collectors. The clear shell helmet has the logos, size/brand labels, striping, and paint - under the shell - unlike conventional helmets with the exterior painted and decals/striping applied over the exterior paint.  The idea was that the paint and any logos and/or striping would be protected by the shell, keeping the helmet paint and logos in undamaged conditon from game wear.  

The period of these helmets that is most desired by collectors is the mid 1960's through the mid 1980's, due to the logos used and "displayed" under the helmet shells. NFL teams and college teams alike used the 100MH model helmets, with superstars of both preferring to wear them due to the fully padded interiors.  These helmets were, and are today, a bit brittle and prone to cracking - especially at the facemask mounts, and at the rivets where the suspension padding was installed.  This helmet is an exception.  The helmet has no cracking at any of the facemask mounts with minor spider cracking at the suspension rivets.  Yes as far as cracking, this helmet is a rarity - it is in excellent condition. 

The other issue with the 100MH models was the paint.  Some of the helmets had some paint issues with the paint not properly adhering to the shell, which is a bit more prominent with white, silver and gold colored helmets.  Additionally, as the paint was sprayed on the inside of the helmet, some helmets exhibit light paint coatings and inconsistent paint thicknesses.  Internal paint wear or scratches resulted in a clear spot on the helmet rather than a molded base color or primer spot on the exterior.  Lastly, since the outside of the helmet is clear, it had tendency to yellow over time or with exposure to light - resulting in a different shade of color than a teammate's conventionally painted helmet. This helmet has one mindor paint issue where paint did not hold the adhesion and popped a bit as shown in the photos - a bit common given it's silver color.   Additionally, there are no scratches, no light spots, no fading - again, great condition with one minor spot that over time did not hold.  

This beautiful helmet is complete including the chinstrap.  The helmet itself is all original and unaltered in any manner. It is in well-worn game used condition, with paint transfers from various teams adding color to the outside shell.  The padding is original, complete including the jaw pads, and in excellent game used condition with light visible wear but no issues.  The logos are perfect and colorful, properly positioned with no issues.  The helmet is a size 7.  The facemask is an original Schutt OPO, in a standard red Dot size - made popular in the 1970s with every NFL and college team using this popular model. nbsp; The mask is in very nice condition with light wear, secured to the helmet with reproduction clips but retaining its original hardware.  Finally, there are two factory labels, one on each side of the helmet interior with the 1977 factory date code stamp. 

A great, beautiful Kelley clear shell - excellent paint, great game wear, nice logos, mask, chinstrap, and padding, no cracks, and in a size 7.  One of the few that you find with great game wear.  Bill would be proud. Don't wait on this one.