The story goes that the Corporation Transport Committee complained to the Watch Committee that the spikes on the helmets were causing damage to the ceilings of the tramcars whenever policemen boarded them.
Whether that is true or not, I don't know. However, police forces regularly changed the design of their helmets, often at the whim of a new Chief Constable, who simply wished to make his mark. In Birmingham's case the spikes were replaced by a "ball" top. The basic design remaining the same. Much later, into the circa 1940's, the ball and cross piece was taken off completely and replaced by a black "rose". Again, the basic design remained the same.
Dave.
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