american industrial "blue point" welder's helmet with an oversized square-shaped stationary lens shade or eye shield. the helmet is comprised of a molded black fiberglass composite. possibly fabricated by jackson and distributed by snap-on. welding helmets are used to protect the eyes, face and neck from flash burn, ultraviolet light, sparks, infrared light, and heat emitted from arc welding. the helmets are necessary to prevent arc eye, a painful condition where the cornea is inflamed. all welding helmets include a window covered with a filter called a lens shade, through which the welder can see to work. in older helmets, the window may be made of tinted glass, tinted plastic, or perhaps a variable-density filter made from a pair of polarized lenses. surface wear consistent with age.