Don Wilson wrote:
I picked up the strangest bicycle helmet in history. It is called a Skidlid. It is NOS. I won't waste bandwidth on list with a description. It was made in San Diego in 1983. What in god's name have I turned up here. Did ANYONE actually wear such a thing in 1983? What were the people in San Diego ingesting in 1983 to produce such a thing? +++++++++++++++++++++ Once in a while, something happens that makes me angry, and the Skid-lid saga is one of those tales. The S-L does look strange. Visualize a simple hemispherical dome. Now cut away everything except the base circle that goes around the head, and 6 "fingers" about 3 cm wide that stretch toward the top but do not meet. Back it with "foam" that can be fully depressed and fully rebounds: non-crushable and verifiably useless for absorbing shock. Add to this ensemble a strap (not a retention system) that is advertised as having the virtue of releasing easily in a fall (or something like that). Is this nuts: parting company when it hits, so it can't be available for a second hit? Basically, it was a cross between sputnik design and the leather hairnet, but advertised and sold nationally.
For a number of years, while reputable manufacturers and advocates such as Snell Foundation and the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute worked toward a test method that would give consumers assurance that what they bought would protect their heads to the extent feasible, it is my understanding that S-L fought at every step. When ANSI Z90-1 was finally adopted, it is my understanding that S-L filed for bankruptcy immediately. I was told that this was an effort to avoid litigation by the people who had suffered severe injury while wearing that thing.
I have a very small collection of helmets from the 70s. Bailen, MSR, first Bell model, etc. There is a Skid-Lid, too. It was recovered from its proper resting place, a chicken coop. The feather that it acquired there is still attached, a fitting mark of its design quality. For credible bicycle market and engineering info, I recommend http://www.bhsi.org. Because Randy Swart, its maven, worked with local bike group support (WABA.org) for years on the standards issues and other key parts of getting better helmets, we don't have much to worry about any longer in terms of the performance of the helmets that are legally sold as conforming to the CPSC spec.
Now, astute readers will note that this message is cadged with "I was told" and "it is my understanding" because I was a bystander in this war, not a participant. If I am wrong, please correct me, but I'm really not interested in a dialogue with ambulance chasers who would sue me for defamation (the perp was not named) or seek my assistance in suing the defunct firm. This language shall be deemed to take the place of the disclaimer "signatures" some of our fellow members inflict on us... :-)
harvey sachs
mcLean va.