Plexiglas Football Facemasks

[Waffles]

I was looking for some Jim Brown pictures to put in the "Greatest RB" thread, and I came across these pictures that show Brown wearing what appears to be a plexiglas facemask:

And I remembered seeing them in the Jim Brown "Behind the Glory" episode.

For good measure, I found this from an old Paul Lukas column:

My question then, is what's the story behind these facemasks? When/why did they come in and out of style?

[slapshot]

I think it was just one of the many erly styles of facemasks. I can't remember the site, but there was one that showed all the different types of face guards and masks that players used up until the mid 60's or so, when normal metal bar-type masks became standardized.

YA Tittle might have been another wearer of the plastic guard. I'm not sure what is was made of, it might have been Lucite. I heard it cracked very easily, pretty much making it unintentionally disposable once used.

[IronChefShark]

I heard it cracked very easily, pretty much making it unintentionally disposable once used.

not to mention dangerous

[PackersBrewersBucks]

Who would want to wear that kind of mask. It barely protects the face from injury.

[slapshot]

Remember, this was the early days of facial protection. Guys who wore protection were considered pussies, so they only wore them to protect against a prior injury, like Tittle's broken jaw. A clear facemask provided unobstructed views of everything, ones that thick metal bars blocked.

[FiddySicks]

ahh i know this one! i think. it was Y.A Tittle who wore the first face mask to protect a broken jaw. it was clear plexiglass and had a handle on the side. he hated it because the defenders kept grabbing the handle and trying to snap his neck. accually. Y.A tittle was, if memory serves me correctly, the first football player on the cover of Sports Illustrated, and he had the plexiglass facemask on in the picture

[dfwabel]

I think it was just one of the many erly styles of facemasks. I can't remember the site, but there was one that showed all the different types of face guards and masks that players used up until the mid 60's or so, when normal metal bar-type masks became standardized.

YA Tittle might have been another wearer of the plastic guard. I'm not sure what is was made of, it might have been Lucite. I heard it cracked very easily, pretty much making it unintentionally disposable once used.

I believe you were thinking of Helmet Hut.

Helmet Hut

[FiddySicks]

you know jpslapshot22, i always thought that great minds think alike . nice work. beat me by 1 minute, damn, if i hadnt ran to grab that soda

[NJTank]

Yeah they dont look good and dont look stable

[slapshot]

I found this picture of Tittle with the plexiglass mask, and handle on the side of the helmet.

[NJTank]

LOL

That helmet looks but together with extra stuff laying around his garage.

[Stampman]

That photo & some good shots of it are here

and

Check out Perry 60-- & that curved face mask

And Jim Brown's Syracuse helmet is here...

[Mac6674]

The material in question is Lucite, and they stopped using them because they tended to shatter, which was a bit dangerous.

[hormone]

I think all these "retro" lovers like people who think the gray mask belongs on the Colts or USC Trojans should go this route or maybe even leather helmets and long sleeves. Now that's retro!

[rockchalk]

I think all these "retro" lovers like people who think the gray mask belongs on the Colts or USC Trojans should go this route or maybe even leather helmets and long sleeves. Now that's retro!

Hey, nothing wrong with sleeves on a football uniform. I've been wishing they'd make a comback

[Discrim]

I found this picture of Tittle with the plexiglass mask, and handle on the side of the helmet.

shoot, i'd hate that damn handle too. whose halfbaked idea was that?

[November]

I think Jim Browns coach in Cleveland was credited with inventing the facemask protection with that plexiglass mask because of people getting cleated in the face.