Summary

Alternative Name(s): Hard Hat
Plastic safety helmet made circa 1988 and used at P.M.A. (Pigment Manufacturers of Australia) Laverton, Victoria, Australia, circa 1988.

This hat belonged to Wayne Banks who was a fitter in the workshop. Before the late 1980s, grey hats were for process workers, red were for staff and blue were for workshop employees. By the late 1980s, the company introduced a policy of blue hats for all workers. It was also a common practice for workers to personalise their helmets with messages or stickers.

"These hard hats were used everywhere throughout the plant. They were all individuals and various people had various messages that seemed to identify their own, suitably inscribed." Alan Barlee, General Manager (mid 1960s-1991)

Pigment Manufacturers of Australia (P.M.A.) was established at Laverton in 1961. It manufactured two main classes of pigments, azo and phthalocyanine, which were sold mainly to the local ink and paint markets. P.M.A. closed down in 1990 due to various economic and environmental factors.

Physical Description

Blue plastic helmet with front fixed visor. Yellow and black stickers on exterior. The scuffed yellow sticker on the visor has black arrrows. Opaque plastic head fitting attached inside. Three grey ribbons across inside of hat.

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