MaxPro clear shell LSU Tigers helmet. The helmet has a "0" stamped near the edge below the ear hole - which we believe could be the original molded date of 1980 on the helmet - but not sure.  There is a warning sticker on the inside of the helmet with the '85 date on it - which typically is the date that the helmet is produced.  Based on that interior sticker and the padding style, we believe the helmet to be from 1985 consistent with other MaxPro helmets with the inked datecode and padding style inside. 

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 Marietta and later MaxPro Kineomatic 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.  This helmet is an exception.  The helmet has no cracking at any of the facemask mounts and remains in excellent condition.  Yes as far as cracking, this helmet is a rarity - it is perfect. 

The other issue with the clear shell 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 no paint issues, other than minor paint loss on the edges of the helmet bottom where the inside gray paint has worn away a bit.  Otherwise, there are no scratches, no light spots, no fading - again, just bright and perfect.  

This beautiful helmet is complete including the rare MaxPro chinstrap.  The helmet itself is all original and unaltered in any manner.  The padding is original, complete including the leather Gladiator/MaxPro jaw pads, which have a bit of a different snap pattern than the Riddell or BIKE helmets from the same era.  The padding in near perfect/mint condition with no visible wear or issues.  The logos are perfect and colorful, properly positioned with no issues.  The helmet is a very nice highly desired size large - 7 3/8.  The facemask is an original Schutt thin wire NOP with heavy wear and some fading, dated 1985, secured to the helmet with the original Riddell thin wire 1980s clips along with the original hardware including the gold colored screws.  There are two factory labels on the rear of the helmet - under the shell of course - the MaxPro logo label on the right side of the helemt and the helmet name - KINEOMATIC 22 - on the rear left side. Finally, there is the factory label, one on the inside of the helmet above the earhole with the 1985 factory date code stamped on the label. 

A great, beautiful, very rare MaxPro clear shell helmet - bright and beautiful logos, mask, and padding, no cracking, and in a size LARGE, just as nice as it left the factory more than 40 years ago.  Don't wait on this one.