Gumball Helmets

Here are the NFL 2009 Photos

2009-05-13T11:46:00.000-07:00

Here are the photos mentioned in my earlier post!

Updates to NFL Helmets

2009-05-13T11:39:00.001-07:00

As many of you know, the NFL will have 3 teams with new or updated helmets in 2009. I have completed the Gumball art for each of these - see attached photos.

I also completed some work on some older prototypes for teams like the Bengals and Falcons (helmets developed for use, but not used on the field for some reason), as well as some "error" helmets for teams like the Cowboys (helmets that were produced for some reason, but never actually worn - probably a production error of some type).

I also found photos of the East and West helmets worn in the final AFL All-star game in 1970, just before the merger. This was the only time the AFL All-stars wore special helmets and I now have them in Gumball Size!

My next posts should be related to Baseball - I have completed the 2009 changes, the updates to my Negro Leagues set and am almost done with my Japanese (NPB) set.

Enjoy!

Been Very Busy with...

2009-05-13T08:40:00.000-07:00

It's been some time since my last post. I have been busy with two projects (and life and work, etc.). My biggest current project is working on a set of Japanese Leagues Baseball Caps and Helmets. This is a huge undertaking and I hope to have the Pacific League, the Central League and many throwbacks (back to the 50's) done very soon. That will be another post.

My second project has been the 2009 changes to Indoor Football Leagues. The CIFL, IFL, SIFL and AIFA are done. I am still working on the APFL. So, here you go. Enjoy the photos.

Fantasy Football Gumball Helmets

2009-03-16T19:51:00.001-07:00

As I continued to grow my collection of Gumball Football Helmets from the NFL to the WFL to the Arena League and beyond, I began to think about creating Fantasy Helmets. I had often thought about how some sports logos would look on Football helmets. What would a Los Angeles Lakers helmet look like? How about the Edmonton Oilers? Or the Boston Lobsters (World Team Tennis anyone?)? Well, I took my love of custom gumball helmets to the next level and created sets for many other sports. I also created Fantasy Helmets for various Fantasy Football League (some that I play in and some that I don't play in).

To date, I have created Fantasy Football Helmet artwork for the following leagues:

NHL

WHA

MLL

MLB

NBA

ABA

WTT

NASL

In addition, I have completed sets for the Justice League (comic books) and the helmets from the teams in the video game "Blitz".

I have also completed a number of helmets shown in Movies, Television Shows and Commericials. Many of these were completed with a big assist from MGHELMETS.COM. Finally, I have done work for some fantasy football leagues and some custom work for specific collections (all New York based sports teams for example).

Shown above are a few photos of these sets. Enjoy,

Bill

Recent Hockey Project

2009-03-11T05:12:00.000-07:00

It has been awhile since my last entry. I have been working on a set of Minor League Hockey Helmets (Goalie Masks). Above are a few photos of the completed sets. So far, I have completed the following leagues, including throwback teams -

Atlantic Coast Hockey League

Southern Professional Hockey League

South East Hockey League

WHA2

American Hockey League

Central Hockey League

Colonial Hockey League

East Coast Hockey League

ECHL (after the merger)

Eastern Professional Hockey League

International Hockey League (old)

United Hockey League / International Hockey League (new)

Mid-American Hockey League

Mid-West Hockey League

West Coast Hockey League

Western Professional Hockey League

All American Hockey Association

In addition, I completed NHL sets (including throwbacks and alternate logos), WHA, and Roller Hockey International. I am also working on Junior Ice Leagues (WHL, OHL, NAHL, USHL, and QMJHL) and Lacrosse (NLL, MLL). More to follow.

Bill

Outdoor Football Leagues

2009-02-27T07:21:00.000-08:00

As I was researching and completing the various Indoor and Arena Leagues, I discovered more outdoor leagues. I had already worked on the WFL and USFL as well as some TB NFL helmets. Then I found the CFL, CFL USA (one of my favorite sets) and many, many more. Here is a list of outdoor leagues, including the NFL, that I have completed:

National Football League (including Throwbacks)

American Football League (1960's)

Canadian Football League

CFL USA

World Football League

United States Football League

All American Football Conference

Asian-Pacific Football League

NFL Europe (Europa)

World League of American Football

Professional Spring Football League

Spring Football League

Regional Football League

XFL

All American Football League (2008)

Continental Football League (1960's)

Next on this list is the new United Football League in 2009. I expect that I will do a full post on the NFL, since my work now includes more than just the current helmets.

Enjoy,

Bill

List of Indoor and Arena Football Leagues

2009-02-26T14:03:00.001-08:00

While working on the Arena League throwbacks, I discovered many other Indoor Football leagues. So, I began work on those as well. Here is a list of Indoor leagues that are complete and in my collection

Arena Football League

Arena Football League 2 (AF2)

American Indoor Football League

American Indoor Football Association

American Professional Football League

Continental Indoor Football League

Great Lakes Indoor Football League

Intense Football League

United Indoor Football

Indoor Football League (2009)

Eastern Indoor Football League

Indoor Football League (2000)

National Indoor Football League

World Indoor Football League

Indoor Professional Football League

Professional Indoor Football League

Various Independent Teams

For the 2009 season, we have some new leagues and teams on the horizon. I hope to have those completed by April or May of this year (after the seasons start).

Bill

Arena and Indoor Football

2009-02-24T05:21:00.000-08:00

The next step in the evolution of my Gumball collection was the Arena Football League. I went to my first game in 1988 and fell in love with this version of football. I began collecting anything I could from this new league. As time went on, my home town fielded a team and I was able to begin seeing many more teams and helmets. After completing the USFL and WFL sets, I moved on to the current AFL and then to all the throwbacks. That took some time and some serious research. The AFL had many, many teams and lots of one-time use or pre-season only helmets. Many teams also used more than one helmet in a season. And, the New York City Hawks actually had a home and an away helmet!

From the AFL, I moved on to other Indoor leagues, such as the AF2, PIFL, IFL, NIFL and others (a complete list will be the topic of a future entry). These leagues also proved to be a challenge. However, the result is some of my favorite helmet sets. I really like the old IFL and PIFL sets. Here are photos of a portion of my Arena League set and one season of the NIFL. Enjoy.

Bill

My First Football Helmets - WFL, USFL

2009-02-23T15:20:00.000-08:00

Let's start at the start, as they say. I began collecting the old NFL iHOP Gumball Helmets in the early 1970's. My grandfather would buy them for me when we had breakfast. Over time, I collected entire sets and played with them. Later in life, I discovered that you could purchase these great old helmets on Ebay. At the same time, I was looking for a specific set of drink coasters that had World Football League logos on them from 1974. I really wanted these as a kid, and never did get them. They were sold at some gas stations in California and I figured I could find them on Ebay. As I searched, I started thinking - wouldn't it be great if I could get WFL Gumball Helmets!

So, I decided to make some. My first efforts were crude, but over time I got better. I used various resources, like the VHM Club, Logo Server, and various other helmet history sites to help me make these first helmets. I ended up with Adobe PhotoShop Elements, which is a great program for this type of work. I also "met" other helmet collectors via email. People like David J, Ben J, and Klaus K all helped me do a better job on these helmets. Once I figured it out, I started on other Football Leagues - USFL, AFL, Arena, and many, many others. I will add a complete list later. For now, here a a few photos of sets I have completed to date.

Bill

First Entry

2009-02-23T05:42:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone. This is the first entry in my new Gumball Helmet blog. In this blog, I hope to share my passion for this hobby, my designs, and some history of various sport's helmets and caps.

I create and collect custom football, baseball and hockey gumball helmets. These are the same helmets you may have collected when you were a kid. They came from 25 cent machines, IHOP, baseball concession stands, comic book ads and other locations. They are harder to find these days, but still fun to collect.

Since most of these factory made helmets represented the NFL, MLB and NHL, I decided it would be fun to "create" sets for other leagues. I started with the old World Football League and went from there. A few years ago, I tried my hand at updating some MLB helmets with custom logos and then went on to Minor League teams and historic teams (Negro Leagues, etc.). Then, I started making custom Hockey Helmets. I loved the old World Hockey Association, so I started there. Now I am making Minor Leagues and Jr Leagues, as well as Throwback NHL helmets.

That is the quick history of my work and what this blog will document over time. I plan on adding photos and links later.

Thanks for reading,

Bill