Original U.S. Indian Wars Rare Electrician’s M-1881 Blue Cloth Spiked Pith Helmet by Horstmann & Bros of Philadelphia Category_Water Jacket Assembly The interior of the cap

The interior of the cap is lined with sheer brown rayon faux silk

There are two Hitsu-ana cut outs on either side of the blade

without a hinge

This example retains several markings

There is also assembly number 542 marked on the loading gate

Original U.S. Indian Wars Rare Electrician’s M-1881 Blue Cloth Spiked Pith Helmet by Horstmann & Bros of Philadelphia Category_Water Jacket Assembly The interior of the capOriginal Item: One Only. Much like our European cousins in the 1880s, the U. S. Army started to adopt spiked pith helmets, often in white, with all brass mounts and occasionally plumes. These saw active service in the Spanish American War of 1898 especially in the tropical climate in Cuba. While often referred to as "pith helmets" in the broad sense, it was made from cork, like many European variants, such as the Wolseley pattern used by the British.