Oh God, Frank Grant...good luck with that one!

Very cool photo! Thanks for posting...

Thanks Peter- very interesting information. I have one of the unique helmet plates for the Chilean pith helmet, but sadly not the helmet itself...

Peter- lovely cork helmet, and very interesting article! Do you have one of the Ludwig Bordfeldt-made Chilean pith helmets in your collection?

I wish I knew exactly! Something from the Ottoman Empire...

Or how about this pickelhaube? Does anyone have one of these?

Sorry, here's the Hawaiian helmet. It was the property of King David Kalakuau...

Here is the Hawaiian Pickelhaube of which I was speaking, although the one above is of great interest to me as well. Was the Madagascar spiked helmet in the German style, or of German manufacture? These are really the only ones that interest me. How about this rare Chinese cuirassier helmet, of whic...

Very nice!!

I believe these are old US Navy dress shoulder boards...

A Hawaiian Pickelhaube!

What an artistic and evocative composition!

Hi John, Thanks for your efforts! I'm pretty positive the epaulettes are not German. The symbol on them is referred to as "Jupiter's Thunder Bolt", and appears in a military insignia context in a number of nations, although not always with the same significance. I'm hoping the nation from which thes...

Hi Folks,
I have these mystery epaulettes I'm hoping to identify. Similar to German ones, with a dark blue backing, gilt mounts, and a pale yellow field. Each originally bore three stars. Any ideas?

Cheers,
Arran.

Hmmm...I can't remember, but I do search both of those eBays so it could have been either.

A pair just sold on eBay. I see them there with relative frequency...

Interesting. Symbols representing both Artillery and Infantry. Possibly a militia shako plate?

Sweet!!

EM or Officer? Silver, gilt, or grey?

I HATE Photobucket!!!

Looks great! Have you considered using some black leather dye on the chin scale backings?

This one is also a reproduction. I hope they weren't too expensive...

The one you show here is a reproduction.

This is an excellent study! Thanks so much for your efforts...

I think green and brown were the most common colours, but honestly I've seen original liners in almost every colour under the sun! Pink, blue with spots, yellow...

SOLD now, thanks!

Some more pics...

I've owned a few of these over the years, but this is by far the nicest of them! The fabric is fresh and bright, and the bullion embroidery retains most of its original gilding, which really makes it stand out. The size is reasonably large (about 42-43 chest) and there are loops for a long medal bar...

I've never seen a lacquered felt body that was composed of that colour felt!

Very cool! I'm seeing a few different makers represented judging from the shapes of the skulls and visors...

I'm not sure the fur is actually opossum on this- what do you feel? I think it is likely an old repro, but the skull looks very good to me and could be original...

I think the academy association may be correct! Also note that both the helmet with plume and the Arizona museum helmet are NCO in configuration, rather than the officer grade helmets we see with the standard Mexican plate. This would make sense for aspirants at the academy, IMO. Here is a helmet so...

Very cool!!

That last metal helmet is not German military in configuration- more like a fireman's helmet in shape. I've found another pic of a helmet with this plate, too. State militia of some kind, or possibly a military academy? I can't say...

No history, I'm afraid, but it did come with the accompanying belt:

Its a real shame that this thread has been gutted of its pics. Here is the 1916 pattern pickelhaube for officers of the Reichskolonialamt...

Could you post some pics?

It looks perfectly original to me! Nice find- not a plate I've ever encountered...

"According to Randy this is a funeral parade helmet the reason it is painted black."

I'd love to know more about this, as I've never heard of such a thing!

I think overall it looks pretty good. The extra holes by the chin scales which have been filled resulted from the helmet being modified from an earlier, taller pattern. Extra holes under the eagle are the result of one or more different spikes/eagles being fitted to it over the years. There may also...

These cockades are much rarer than most German ones, but not as sought after. If you're looking for Reichs and State cockades, PM me and perhaps we can work out a trade...

Thanks for posting the plate- its a beautiful design, and now the latest edition to my "want" list!

Sorry to hear this. Cameron did a restoration job for me with which I was very pleased, and certainly had an exceptional talent in that field...

I believe photo bucket charges now for images- I use tinypic.com with no problems!

There is also a pic of this type of helmet in the old C.E. Juncker catalogue...I'd love to see pics of the e-bay plate!

Ah! A lead, at least...do you have any other pics of it?

Thanks,
Arran.

I came across this photo on the web. Clearly the spike top is incorrect, but the plate appears to be a different design of Mexican wappen- has anyone seen such a helmet before, and is this variation identified?

You want Rosanna Polizzotto. She's simply the best, very reasonable pricing, and fairly quick turn-around. http://enamelrestoration.com/Home_Page.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I do have an original US cruciform spike base and the correct visor trim. PM me if you're interested...

I've seen these for sale before and I believe they are not that old, possibly still being produced on a "small scale"