Brand New to This Forum - need some expert input

O

Old and Retired

New member
Hello,

I am brand new to this forum (joined today) and need some help in identifying some old Prussian/German military headgear.

Some full disclosure first so you honestly know why I am asking.

I am retired and in my 70's. Photography has been a lifelong hobby for me but I have also had a curiosity and interest in vintage historical firearms, edged weapons and military memorabilia in general. Although I do own a few historic pieces I am not really a true collector, but I enjoy reading and learning about them...maybe that sounds strange?

I have had a wonderful opportunity to combine both of these two interests in a retirement side gig working for a man who owns an outdoor sporting business. Militaria is not his primary business but during the course of his activities he encounters pieces that he acquires and sells at auction.

My job is to take these pieces, photograph them and research them and I love doing this. Accuracy is paramount. No passing off reproductions as a vintage item. If an item is found to be a reproduction it is identified and sold as such.

I am getting pretty darned good at recognizing obscure 19th century revolvers, military bayonets, and fighting knives from the 19th and 20th century and some old pocketknives but I have three pieces of headgear that I have never researched before. I am finding the nuances to be overwhelming as a noobie to the subject.

At the end of the day I probably earn about 2 bucks an hour doing this (honestly) but I love doing it and it keeps my mind engaged and active. If after reading this you feel as if you really don't want to help me with something I am getting paid for I completely understand. Thats why I did all of this "splainin'" first. Just wanted to be upfront about it.....

A sincere thank you for any and all info you may have on the following items that you would care to offer - correct name, history, rank dates in use etc.

I have 3 helmets that are in question.

Helmet 1

IMG_9945 (1).jpg

IMG_9947.jpg

IMG_9954.jpg

Helmet 2

IMG_9958.jpg

IMG_9961.jpg

IMG_9969.jpg

Helmet 3

1-IMG_9944.jpg

4-IMG_9932.jpg

8-IMG_9937.jpg

Thank you again for actually reading my post and getting this far! Please know your interest is appreciated!

All the best!
 
Welcome here!
Helmet 1 is an M15 (1915) artillerie haube, Prussian.
Helmet 2 is an M95, (1895) Prussian infantry helmet, for enlisted troops, from a reserve regiment, these have no motto mit got fur konig und vaterland bandeau, but the small iron cross instead. The kokarde on that one, is original, but it is for Jzpf, or kurassier helmets.
These kokarden are larger in size than the usual kokarden for enlisted ranks. It should have the smaller sized ones on it. Then again, the kokarde on it now is worth a lot nowaday's.
Helmet 3 is a firemans helmet, and as I have no knowledge about these, I can't help you with further info on it. But the other members here sure do.
The rest of our community here will surely provide you with more info.

Best regards, Coert.
 
Last edited:
Thank you for your response which is genuinely appreciated. In some of the other forums I have participated in I have found wonderfully helpful people like you that I cannot thank enough.

Not to repeat myself but honesty is so very important to me because it reflects favorably on my employer and his business. If I have understood you correctly the second helmet sounds as if it may have been pieced together? I have encountered this sort of thing before with other historical items and I would identify it as such in the description. As you have said collectors may find the pieces desirable. I just don't want to represent it as an authentic original vintage piece if its not really that. If it's questionable - like it may or may not be original - I would state it that way as well.

Thank you again for your help. You have given me a great start!!
 
Well, all 3 are original, so not pieced together helmets, only the larger kokarde, which is also original by the way, on the M1895, shouldn't be there.
Then again, that kokarde alone is quite rare to find nowaday's.
That said, all look perfectly fine by me. All are nice original helmets.
 
coert65 said:
Welcome here!
Helmet 1 is an M15 (1915) artillerie haube, Prussian.
Helmet 2 is an M95, (1895) Prussian infantry helmet, for enlisted troops, from a reserve regiment, these have no motto mit got fur konig und vaterland bandeau, but the small iron cross instead. The kokarde on that one, is original, but it is for Jzpf, or kurassier helmets.
These kokarden are larger in size than the usual kokarden for enlisted ranks. It should have the smaller sized ones on it. Then again, the kokarde on it now is worth a lot nowaday's.
Helmet 3 is a firemans helmet, and as I have no knowledge about these, I can't help you with further info on it. But the other members here sure do.
The rest of our community here will surely provide you with more info.

Best regards, Coert.
Click to expand...
I have more photos of each of these helmets and based on your thoughts I went back and looked more closely at the kokarde on helmet 2. Sure enough, the one on the other side is different which is something I did not notice when photographing it. (Taking these photos sometimes becomes somewhat of an assembly line affair for me.)

This is looking more like someone assembled this helmet from spare parts or added some parts that were missing. I have seen this sort of thing before with other pieces of memorabilia from different genres.

I have added a photo of the other side of the same helmet as well as another copy of the one I first sent you for ease of comparison. If I may impose on you once again, I am very interested in any follow up comments you may have.

Thank you again for theses insights. You are helping me immeasurably as I will be able to write an auction description that is transparent, fair and accurate. I am hoping that this piece may still be of interest to some collectors - even in its current condition.

Best!

IMG_9965.jpg

IMG_9961.jpg
 
It is a very nice, and original M95 helmet! What's more important, the chinstrap is also an original one. The rear visor needs some stitching, as I can see, which can be done, but anyway, it is still a nice original helmet! That larger Kokarde alone would fetch quite a lot of dollars, so this, and the helmet itself can do very well at an auction. Originally it had 2 smaller kokarden, I recently bought 2 pairs of those here on the forum, from a Board member. The kokarde now on it, is from a Jager zu Pferde, or a Kurassier regiment, so it doesn't belong on this M1895 enlisted ranks helmet.
Then again, it does increase it's value, since these are rare kokarden. And, if it did have 2 original smaller sized kokarden, which belong to it, the Reich kokarde , which you have, (not the correct one but okay) should be on the other side, the right side. The prussian kokarde, which isn't present, should be where that kokarde you have now present. It's quite simple, Reich kokarde on the right, Landes kokarde on the left.
 
Welcome very nice helmets. I had a Pickle with 2 large cockades which was nice perhaps some soldiers like the look of them, it suits your helmet nicely. Rob
 
Maybe it's my eyesight but it looks to me that the front visor on Helmet # 1 was re-stitched at some point, possibly the rear visor as well?
 
Steve Nick said:
Maybe it's my eyesight but it looks to me that the front visor on Helmet # 1 was re-stitched at some point, possibly the rear visor as well?
Click to expand...
Quite possibly.....I really do not know the back story on any of these helmets. I am very ignorant regarding the details of these in general....but it sure looks like I found the right place and I am very grateful for the input.
 
coert65 said:
It is a very nice, and original M95 helmet! What's more important, the chinstrap is also an original one. The rear visor needs some stitching, as I can see, which can be done, but anyway, it is still a nice original helmet! That larger Kokarde alone would fetch quite a lot of dollars, so this, and the helmet itself can do very well at an auction. Originally it had 2 smaller kokarden, I recently bought 2 pairs of those here on the forum, from a Board member. The kokarde now on it, is from a Jager zu Pferde, or a Kurassier regiment, so it doesn't belong on this M1895 enlisted ranks helmet.
Then again, it does increase it's value, since these are rare kokarden. And, if it did have 2 original smaller sized kokarden, which belong to it, the Reich kokarde , which you have, (not the correct one but okay) should be on the other side, the right side. The prussian kokarde, which isn't present, should be where that kokarde you have now present. It's quite simple, Reich kokarde on the right, Landes kokarde on the left.
Click to expand...
Hi Coert,

I wanted to ask your advice. You have provided me with wonderful info regarding the first two helmets in my post but I haven't heard from anyone else regarding the third one - the Fireman's Helmet. Would there be any benefit to me creating a second post for the forum that just features that helmet?....calling attention to it as a Fireman's Helmet?

Is there any other forum that you are aware of where I perhaps should also post it?

Thanks!
 
b.loree said:
Yes, Coert has done a good job of identification and explanation here. The only thing that I might have asked ....are their ink stampings in the two military helmets which might provide more information.
Click to expand...
I looked but could not find any markings on the liner. I wish there was some to add to the auction description.
 
Regimental ink stamps are commonly found on the inside of the rear visor, sometimes up in the front of the shell or rarely on the flesh side of the liner. Many German fireman helmets were actually war surplus pickelhauben that were repurposed after WW1. There are few collectors for the ordinary firefighter ones like this. The officer ones are fancier with chin scales, silk liners etc. so more collectible.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top