Prussian Officer M15 Pickelhaube

ww1czechlegion

ww1czechlegion

Well-known member
I finally found a Model 1915 Prussian Officer Helmet today at our small military show in Des Moines. A collector friend had it for sale. I thought it seemed familiar when I saw the break on the zinc metal front visor trim with the missing section to it. It dawned on me that it was sold several years ago on an auction here in Iowa, and it had belonged to a deceased collector in Des Moines whom I had never known, but a couple of friends of mine had known him. Unbeknownst to me at the time, one of those friends bought it from the auction, and sold it to the friend whom I purchased it from today.

When I had seen the few photos from the original auction sale, I did not realize it is a true M15 Officer Helmet. It was a nice surprise to see it in person for the first time, and discover this fact.

It's certainly not the nicest looking M15 Prussian Officer, and it has damage to the wartime zinc front visor trim piece with it exhibiting a break and missing a section of the front folded over area of this trim piece. The front visor trim piece and the back spine are both made from zinc type material and the gilt has disappeared from these two fittings.

Vulcan Fiber-body with "Depaheg Patent" maker mark on sweatband. The former wearer has profusely ink stamped his name on the interior of the helmet.

I really like the M15 screw off spike and the M15 officer chin scales. They're in great condition, as is the vulcan fiber body of the helmet.

Best Wishes,

Alan


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Hello Alan,
Superb helmet. He has two rare pieces of equipment:
---The unscrewing tip instead of the removable one.
---Officer's cockades, not with a large central hole but with a small hole, broached by the trunnion.
 

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Nice helmet, Alan.
Can you decypher the first line of the ink stamp? The second word could be "Obererzgebirge".
I think the second line is "Annaberg i.(m) Erzgeb.(irge)".
This is a saxon city, about 30 km south of Chemnitz.

Philippe
 
argonne said:
Nice helmet, Alan.
Can you decypher the first line of the ink stamp? The second word could be "Obererzgebirge".
I think the second line is "Annaberg i.(m) Erzgeb.(irge)".
This is a saxon city, about 30 km south of Chemnitz.

Philippe
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Hi Philippe,

Thanks very much for this excellent information, I appreciate it!

I will take a look at the ink stamps and try to decipher the first line. I have several to look at. It seems that the ink bled to a degree on each of the ink stamps. Probably more so on the cloth lining stampings. I will see what I can do. Maybe I should try to take some close up photos of several of the ink stamps to see if I can make any of them out better. It would probably help me to do that and have them enlarged. Maybe we can figure more of it out. I hope so. Thanks again Philippe! (y)

Best Wishes,

Alan
 
CLOVIS 57 said:
Depaheg was famous for his Vulkanfiber helmets but not only for officers. I have a beautiful ersatz "troop", in riveted Vulkanfiber.
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Thanks Clovis 57, I appreciate this. I have a nice example with depot markings, and I have found a couple of photos of these helmet being worn which clearly show the rivets on the front visors. Your example is very nice, congratulations! (y)
 
I forgot to post these 2-photos that show a better view of the interior and all the numerous ink stamp markings the former wearer placed inside his helmet.

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