Comments by "Big Blue" (@bigblue6917) on "The World-Famous Custodian Helmet" video.

They were also known as Peelers , though this has long since gone out of use. I knew the origin of the hat being connected to the tropical helmet used by the British Army. In fact if you look at the uniform of both the police of the 1880's and the British Army of the same period and the connection is obvious. The bowler hat, worn by women PCs, was originally invented for the use of bailiffs who worked for various country estates when dealing with poachers and alike. They were designed as safety headgear and the idea was the bailiffs would get protection if the got into a fight with the poachers, or to protect them from branches when they were riding through wooded areas. Interestingly they would later be worn by gents working in the offices in the City of London. So maybe working in the City was more dangerous then you think.
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