What Do You Collect – Vintage Helmets?

Posted by: Post date: June 28th, 2010

Just curious – what do you like to collect? I like vintage helmets, because I like motorcycles. I also happen to like most anything old – cars, motorcycles – just about anything interesting. And, I like them because of the history, what have these old things seen during their “lifetimes?”

I know, they are not “alive” in the classic sense. But, these vintage helmets have seen many miles on lots of different highways – probably ridden on some classic machinery like an early Honda RC-166 motorcycle or a classic shovelhead Harley Davidson. You just never know, but you surely can imagine, can’t you? That’s what I do – imagine.

What people and events have gone before me, who had success, who experienced failure and who lived and who died. What the trip was like, did they have a good time, or did they encounter bad weather? Was the vintage helmet someone’s pride and joy, or did it sit in a closet for forty years, just waiting to be uncovered?

To me, that’s what makes collecting stuff fun and interesting – what happened before me. I’m a history buff, and I like to read biographies (and autobiographies, too). I like history, and aside from the cool looks from some of this vintage collectible stuff, it’s what went on behind the scenes that is of particular interest to me.  Maybe that’s just weird, but that’s what I like. Don’t forget – go heavy on the imagination.

Since we really can’t channel and go back in time (like “Back To The Future” with Michael J Fox), our imaginations have to take over and provide what reality can’t.

So, the next time you hold vintage helmets in your hands, try to imagine what that helmet experienced for its owners and riders.

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Vintage Bell Helmets Make Great Collectibles

Posted by: Post date: June 17th, 2010

Now, when some of these great old Vintage Bell Helmets were made I was just learning to walk! It just makes sense that helmat sales began to soar in the early 1960′s as the Japanese motorcycle invasion became of age. About this time Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki pleasure bikes began to become quite popular, so it just makes sense that sales of motorcycle helmets during those years really began to increase as well.

Vintage Bell Magnum L.T.D. Helmets
These were the classic 1960′s helmets for sure – plain white on the outside, open face but they did cover the ears. The were SNELL approved for the year (I’m not sure how far nack Snell did go), but the Bell helmets were usually on top of the technology for the day.

When you’re looking at helmets that are 45 years + old, the materials can deteriorate quickly – especially if they are not taken care of. Depending upon where these vinatge helmets were stored, their condition today could be anything from downright disastrous to mint. The mint condition Bell helmets are very rare these days, and they can sell for very high prices.

Buco Draggin Flames Metal Flake Helmet
Now, the Buco vintage helmet is a rare helmet indeed. Until now, I had never heard of a Buco, but to find one in any sort of reasonable condition is almost impossible – and the prices they sell for these days supports that fact. Plus, they did come in all of the wild 1970′s colors – the metal flakes were extremely popular (I remember that).  The Buco would make an excellent vintage helmet to add to your collection – if you can find one.

Will intage helmets continue to be great collectibles and great investments? Only time will tell, but they do have quite a following and the supply of these old helmets – any vintage helmet – is definitely limited and not getting larger.

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