My tandem stoker/wife and I each wore WHITE Kucharik helmets in the late 1970s.
John did a limited production for Schwinn of white helmets at that time with the Schwinn logo.
Wore them in good health and even managed to crash at 30+ miles an hour on our tandem.
Yup, we are still alive and that helmet likely saved us from a concussion.
Used to wear the old Cinelli 'hairnets' and the Kucharik was a definite improvement.
Also, living in sunny Arizona the white helmet was a bit cooler when the temps got up to 110 degrees than the black Cinellis!
Agree, today's foamy hardshells give a bit better protection.
Have cracked a couple of them and still pedalin' at ages 83 and 81.
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem