Early Military Leather Slit Eye Shields / Tank & Vehicle Crew Protective Goggles – c.1910–

An exceptionally unusual pair of early military-style protective eye shields, believed to date from the first half of the 20th century and of a type associated with personnel working around vehicles, machinery and other hazardous environments.

The goggles have a wonderfully primitive and purposeful construction. Each eye is protected by a substantial rectangular shield with a raised rigid cup to the rear and an extremely narrow horizontal viewing slit, dramatically restricting the amount of light and debris capable of reaching the eye.

The shields have substantial leather/leather-covered construction and retain their original brown leather adjustable head strap and buckle.

This form of slit eye protection predates the familiar modern safety goggle. Similar principles were employed in specialist military and transport environments where protection from glare, wind, dust, sparks and flying debris was required.

Although particularly evocative of early military vehicle and armoured crew equipment, related leather slit-type eye protectors were also employed in civilian heavy industry, including railway and locomotive work, foundries, furnaces and metalworking, where workers needed protection against intense glare, heat and sparks.

The extremely restricted horizontal apertures are the most fascinating feature. Rather than relying upon conventional glass lenses, the design physically limits the amount of light reaching the wearer's eyes whilst retaining a narrow field of vision.

A superb piece of early protective equipment with a distinctly Great War / inter-war industrial and military appearance.

Ideal for a collection of WWI/WWII militaria, early tank and vehicle equipment, military engineering, railwayana, industrial history or occupational safety equipment.

The goggles remain in genuine untouched condition with considerable age-related wear to the leather, covering and fittings. The original adjustable strap remains present.

Date: c.1910–1940
Type: Military / industrial protective slit goggles
Material: Leather/leather-covered shields with rigid eye cups and leather strap
Applications: Military vehicle crews, engineering and related heavy industrial use; comparable slit protection was also used in railway, furnace and foundry environments.
Condition: Original used condition with wear and deterioration commensurate with considerable age.