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1960S Bell Motorcycle Helmet
History Behind The 1960s Bell Motorcycle Helmet
During the 1960s, choppers were the popular form of
transportation. Choppers, which are customized cruisers,
were not much like the speed bikes of todays time. They
were beautifully crafted, sometimes by hand, and had
immaculate detailing. Helmets were more of a fashion
accessory than a necessity back then. The 1960s Bell
motorcycle helmet designs were hot and everyone wanted
one. The popularity of the 1960s Bell motorcycle helmets
projected the Bell Helmet company into areas it never
thought it would go.
If you think Bell helmets have been around forever, then
you are just about right. In 1923, George Wight opened
the first Bell Auto Parts in California. This single
store was the beginning of a business legacy. The shop
operated successfully as strictly an auto parts store.
Ten years later however, Roy Richter went to work at
Bell Auto Parts as a pattern maker. He was interested in
racing and built the Bell Special which was a
miniature racecar.
Richter went on to purchase Bell Auto Parts in 1945 for
a mere $1000. Continuing to do what they had been doing
since opening, Richter also decided to manufacture
helmets in 1954. The helmets were such a success that
Richter formed the Bell Helmet Company. The first
helmets were very heavy however and were uncomfortable
to wear. Drivers began asking for lighter helmets and
Richter developed the 1960s Bell motorcycle helmet
called the Shorty.
After the initial release and forming of the Bell Helmet
company, sports participants everywhere wanted one.
After Bell made their helmets lighter, they became the
official supplier of helmets to the US Ski team. This
was a huge endorsement and Bell really took off after
that. The company that had started as a small auto parts
store in California was growing larger each year.
Not only did Bell continue making racing helmets but
they also made helmets for skiing, hockey, skydiving,
baseball, football, police, and firefighters. The Bell
racing team won several races and started making its
mark in the racing world. Evil Knievel, who also used
Bell helmets, crashed and went into a coma. When he
woke, almost a month later, he credited his survival to
Bells helmet. With a successful racing team and
positive endorsement from the US ski team and Evil
Knievel this was one company going nowhere but up.
After Richter retired and then later died, Bell Helmet
company kept growing and is still one of the top helmet
companies around today. Richter and the Bell company
have been recognized nationally many times and received
many honors and awards for their designs. The original
1960s Bell motorcycle helmet continues to be a popular
design, although it has been made into modified newer
models.
However, those who remember the first Bell helmets would
agree that there was nothing better than the original
Bell helmets. Bell was and still is a step above the
rest. Not only were they hip and durable, but they were
also made to last.
About the Author
Whitney Acke is a freelance writer from Lexington,
Kentucky. In addition to freelance writing she also
enjoys songwriting. She and her husband have two young
boys and four dogs. She is a regular contributor to
http://My-Motorcycle-Helmet.com .
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