The work continues: https://photos.smugmug.com/Tschapkas/i-VxgfMRq/0/769b2731/XL/IMG_1630-XL.jpg The visor actually has three layers to it, a thin outer layer of very fine leather, a middle stiffer/thicker layer and finally, the typical green cloth/leather underside. In manufacture, the visor is tac...

There is a post in the restoration section showing the re stitch of another tschapka visor. However, I will be posting numerous pics and description of how it is done . The last photo in this post does show the unique visor stitch line. The re stitch does take two people though, two pairs of hands, ...

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our many forum members in the USA! Stay safe!

Excellent point bob....the officer neusilber hook for the fangschnur. This confirms to me along with the other things mentioned....a private purchase helmet even though it does have OR’s visor trim and parade cords.

Good to hear that you did not get hit with duty Jeremy! I really do think that much of it depends on what customs person reads the description. The USA-CN postal exchange works well, I have never lost a helmet on either side of the border....thank God! We always have that tracking number though...Al...

Another Garde Ulan tschapka sent for a visor re stitch and perhaps some finish work. This one like the last, belongs to Alan, the intrepid "Haube Hunter". I may fix a lot of them but he sure knows how to search/discover them. :thumb up: The before photos: https://photos.smugmug.com/Tschapkas/i-KXh8w...

I can only echo your questions Alan, I have no definitive answers. The spraying of paint and finishes was not invented until the 1880’s according to the internet. Prior to this our haube finish would have been brushed on, dried then polished. There is mention of using pumice as a polishing agent. I ...

snaffles: I did have to pay $34 in duty when the pkg. arrived. I can not speak to charges that may have been levied on return post to the UK. J did use a private courier to bring the helmet to CN and I have found that even with helmets sent from the USA no matter what the declared value is...duties ...

Well gentlemen my thanks for the compliments, all I can say is that I just try my best. Cudos also to member Sandy for tracking down the 1876 shellac formula from Germany. This solved a lot of problems and I will be using it from now on.

They don’t get ant better than that Alex, a super example! Congratulations!

Congratulations Alan, a superb helmet!

Amazing fabulous set all to one man!! Incredible.

One thing I just noticed after revisiting these helmets and our discussion.....both Alan’s and Alex’s examples have a molded rear spine ie. the felt and leather strips sewen on were shaped to the profile of a regular metal spine. Very interesting that even this small detail was not overlooked.

Yes , size 56 cm.

Excellent helmet! Even I would look good in that. Style wise, I see more of an Alexander the Great influence, at least from my perspective.

Any markings on the rear visor or inside the shell? Usually, the black tin spike base support disc is on the inside of the shell. However, we often see it as here non regulation.

It does look good to me as well. One thing that I have never seen though is a solid spike support disc....no hole to allow air flow from the spike vents. Very unusual.

Welcome Olaf.

Very cool James! I love the Phrygian Revolutionary cap in the centre of the wappen, also worn by the French in their revolution.

I remember that helmet well Eric, a very unique piece, one of a kind! The 1876 formula works well but has the consistency of water , it will fill in a bit ie. cover the missing finish but it is impossible to get rid of those dents caused by the creases in the shell...at least with my skills.

The crushed top has now been put back into correct position using the method previously described. There was some finish loss in the creased areas but this will be filled in using the 1876 formula. https://photos.smugmug.com/Before-Helmet-Restprations/i-qZrsdF2/0/3dc66e47/XL/IMG_1585-XL.jpg https://...

Very impressive Sergei, I have never seen so many in one collection. Congratulations!

Ha ha! Thanks for the link. I am not really convinced that this is a model 1871. There should only be one Prussian kokarde for example. Anyway, I already have the top back into position and will post pictures today.

Excellent markings, congratulations ! I encountered one example back in the 1980’s but did not buy it.

Fantastic new pieces added to a world class collection!!

Wow!! They don't get any better than that!!

Here are some photos of a damaged helmet sent to me by the Heritage Arsenal a military museum consultancy organization based in Colorado. This officer haube was crushed in transit by a moving company :( . This is the worst case I have ever seen! Here are the "before pictures": https://photos.smugmug...

Not to my knowledge and I have been restoring these helmets for 30 years. There is a company from Poland on German Ebay that sells repro silk liners. The watered silk they use is not correct but this is the only source that I know of.

My JR 153 filz helmet also has brass fittings and wappen with neusilber visor trim. Brass was chemically darkened to stop shine. I agree with your decision to leave things as they are.

Quite rare and expensive these days unfortunately.

Fantastic condition, congratulations! The first grouping is JR ?, 1916, II B. The date is the year when the helmet was accepted by the Regiment, II B is second Battalion. JR or IR stands for Infantry Regiment. Your only problem remaining, is the Regimental number which is almost gone. My advice....g...

My Hessen M15 has brass M91 posts.

A recent message from Coert who purchased 2 sets : Hi Brian, When I arrived home from work today, the stars were waiting for me on my doormat! They are great looking, and I immediately changed the stars on my Infantry officer helmet for the ones you sent me. (I didn't even change my work clothing fo...

Excellent photo! Note that officer in the middle of the group is wearing a pickelhaube.

Truly an unusual piece of art. Congratulations John!

Congratulations on a very nice Saxe Haube. JR 100 wore a black parade trichter as did PB 12 so unfortunately, I do not see any way of specifically nailing this down/identifying it. Extremely rare to have the proper M91 neusilber flat chin scales on this helmet.

No problem Bruno....we are all " Boys with Toys" in reality!!

I need to admit my ignorance here regarding the issue of Alan's painted Oldenburg fittings. My impression of many years, is that the M15 grey finish is that it is not "paint". After 100 years it doesn't look like paint, to me it looks like some sort of finish that was baked on. More specifically I w...

Ok friends, I received the square nuts sourced by Amy so we are good to go on the reproduction sets of stars. If interested, please email or PM me with how many sets you want and your address so I can get postage cost to your location. A reminder: $25US for one set of stars and square nuts plus post...

Congratulations on the recent harvest Alan, it never ceases to amaze me what treasures you manage to discover! I look forward to working on this helmet.

I have followed your lead Gus at every SOS that I have attended and left our tables when I wanted to. There is a certain collector/friend of ours from the great state of MN (even though he and his family are all from Quebec!!) who tends to complain about our absence from the forum tables! What he ne...

One last comment before we beat this post to death.....these helmets were mass produced which means at the turn of the century, a semi standardization of production.... fittings should fit the size of the helmet shell. The spike top and M91 posts are common to all helmets BUT ALL other fittings........

One can not strictly rely on measurements of the wappen holes. This ignores the size of the helmet..54...60cm and half sizes in between. I maintain faith in the wappen shadow which indicates what was truly on there. Smaller size helmets obviously, necessitated a smaller wappen of any type. A wappen ...

Yes Gus, no surprise, I am very "Odd" :) and unlike many, I know about the hazards of "Grain Dust" and the other health problems which can arise after working for decades on the land. Total Respect to all of those who work to produce food for the rest of us! I hope your test is negative and look for...

Recently, Tony S. asked me for photos of the "Duchy Wappen" that I have managed to acquire over 40 years of collecting. I took the pictures yesterday and thought why not post them on the forum as well? Unfortunately, I have not been able to find them all :) so I would invite members who have the the...

Personally, my vote goes for "Prussian Garde" wappen. If you look closely at the front of the helmet, (tape measure photo) you can see the shadow of the swept wing Model 1915 Garde wappen. Last, welcome to our forum Marc!

Hmmm...glad I am not going to be at this 2020 Show with Gus already coughing! Lucky you James!! Of course it could be only a mild case of TB due to all of the "grain dust" that he has inhaled during his life as a farmer.

I feel very lucky just to have the OR’s version purchased back in the 90’s. Even then I never thought I would Find one.

Welcome Matthias!

A Happy Thanksgiving to all of my fellow Canadian members! Stay safe until this covid scourge has been defeated.