New Helmet for Firemen. A fireman wearing the old type helmet adjusts the strap of a new model. The seining brass helmet of the London fire Brigade, introduced over sevent years ago by Sir Eyre Massey Shaw, the first chief officer of the Brigade, replaced the old-time leather helmet is, in its turn, being superceded. The new helmet of cork and rubber is glossy black with gilt comb and rosettes, silver in the case of principal officers. Although the brass helmet gave a high measure of protection, it failed in these modern times through its high conductivity of electricity. November 21, 1936. (Photo by Sport & General Press Agency, Limited).