LORRAIN BASIN COAL FIREFIGHTERS HELMET (HBL.IH), type 1926, Third Republic. 23932
Fully chromed steel bomb with scarlet lacquered interior, steel rush. Brass front plate representing a shield stamped with a flaming grenade, surmounted by a crown and a ribbon bearing the inscription “SAPEURS POMPIERS H B L . I H” and branches of oak and laurel. Brown leather chin strap. Inner cap in black waxed leather cut into six wolf teeth.
France.
Third Republic.
Good condition, small traces of oxidation on the bomb.
HISTORY:
The Houillères de Lorraine, also called Houillères du Bassin de Lorraine or HBL, are coal mines located in the North-East of France. Although the presence of coal in the region has been known since the 16th century, it was at the beginning of the 19th century that the exploitation of the Lorraine basin experienced its development. In 1810, two engineers from the Imperial Corps of Mines drew up the first atlas of the Saar-Lorraine coal basin.
The Lorraine coal basin is located in the north of the Moselle department, and extends over an area of 49,000 ha. It can be roughly delimited by the Villing – Faulquemont – Stiring-Wendel triangle and brings together around 70 municipalities. There were more than 58 wells built between 1818 and 1987.
Reference :
23932