Spectacular leather bicycle speed helmet came from the revered Helms Museum. The helmet is in gorgeous condition and was even custom painted with stars and an arrow pointing the correct way for the rider to wear it. A wonderful piece of sports folk art. Because of the helmet's source (Helms Museum), the fact that Helms had other pieces from McNamara (his photo-matched handlebars which we sold in a previous Leland's auction) and the look and age, there is a possibility that this was worn by Australian cyclist Reggie McNamara, the "Greatest of All Six-Day Bicycle Riders." This Australian legend had a string of dramatic crashes and broken bones, yet rode 3,000 races on three continents over a 30-year span. McNamara won more than 700 races before he retired at the remarkable age of 50 in 1937.