This helmet was produced in 1988 for use by the SMU Mustangs.  It was the latest offering by MaxPro through All-American, featuring their new padding system.  In the late 1980's Riddell purchased All-American Reconditioning located in Elyria, Ohio.  At roughly the same timeframe, they acquired the MaxPro/Gladiator helmet manufacturer.  MaxPro/Gladiator had just changed from their famous GHH Hydro-Flo sealed fluid padding inserts, to their new air filled padding inserts in the same "cloverleaf" shape.  The sealed padding systems in which the entire padding system was switched out to properly size a players helmet was popular but the fluid filled padding was very heavy - similar in weight to the Riddell Micro-Fit line.  Yes, the new helmet with the light weight improved padding was sure to be a hit with the Mustangs - who had been using the older MaxPro and Marietta Kineomatic clear shell helmets for more than a decade. 

The University, known for paying players to play for the Mustangs through the 1970s and 1980s, had their 1987 season shut down by the NCAA as a repeat offender while already on probation for the same infraction.  The 1988 season would be a fresh start, with a fresh MaxPro clear shell helmet - or helmets - see our other listed MaxPro with new padding that would later be refined as their 2001 model.  As luck would have it, the University decided to cancel the 1988 season as well - unable to field a competitive team due to the penalties handed down by the NCAA and lack of scholarships.  This original 1988 clear shell 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 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 paint issues seldom seen on older clear shell helmets.  The paint has some "worm-hole" adhesion issues in which the paint does not stick in almost trail like worm holes as shown in some of the photo.  There are not many late 1980s MaxPro clear shell helmets around, but several that we have seen have the same phenomenon/issue with the paint.  Otherwise, there are no scratches, no light spots, no fading - again, just bright and perfect except for the wormholing issue.  

This beautiful helmet is complete except for the chinstrap.  The helmet itself is all original and unaltered in any manner.  The padding is original, complete including the jaw pads, 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, dated 1988, secured to the helmet with the original Riddell thin wire 1980s clips along with the original hardware including slotted screws - which typically were not included with facemasks from that era.  There are two factory labels on the rear of the helmet - under the shell of course - the Warning label on the right side of the helemt and the MaxPro new helmet name - SUPER PRO - on the rear left side. Finally, there are two factory labels, one on each side of the helmet interior with the 1988 factory date code written on each 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 nearly 40 years ago.  Don't wait on this one.