Recent content by Kaiser Bill

The Lee Valley Shellac and Lacquer thinner is a blend of ethanol and isobutylene alcohol for thinning shellac based products and shellac flakes. The interesting thing is it is not for use with nitrocellulose lacquer. 😳 ???

Brian, In reading your posts on the restoration process the finish that you use is shellac followed by wax shoe polish. To match the thickness of the finish on some helmets many coats are required. On this particular helmet you are sanding the finish and then using lacquer thinner to melt the...

Peter, Having to put up with basements and rainwater most of my life I can relate to your problems. One solution that I have used with great success is a downspout detention basin with underground pipe for drainage. With this you can direct the water away from your basement foundation and...

Hi Joe, glad to hear from you. The last few years have been quite a ride....retirement,moving and downsizing. Things have finally settled down. I see that you too have been on the move. Bill

Joe, to a lesser extent the Henry rifle was also used by Union troops. It was a sixteen shot repeater. Google it and read the Wikipedia story.

Look good to me as well. Is there any sign of the sunburst helmet plate imprinted in the lacquer. That may give you an additional clue that you are dealing with an original Saxon helmet.

February 19-23 in Louisville I believe.

It has been way too long since I posted to this forum. Looking forward to returning to the hobby now that the dust is settling from the move. Any information on the SOS in 2020. Where do most people stay? Thanks in advance. Bill

This may interest some of the Forum members. http://www.cowanauctions.com/upcoming_dates_lots.asp?SaleId=117 Type in "Helmet" in the search function to get to the German helmets. Most of these are not pristine but if you could get them for the right price.... Bill

Gus, " We are in a hotel in Kearney Nebraska," You should have let me know that you were so close... always free room and board and I would have even thrown in a bottle of wine or beer. Keep it in mind for next year. Bill

Hi All, At least some of you made it. On Thursday I had the worst driving conditions all the way from Kansas City to Louisville. St Louis was shut down from all of the ice,sleet, rain, and snow. Generally miserable driving conditions. Did Joe make it to the show? I always worry about those...

As I took one last look at the picture I noticed the sword. Not exactly a line officer item. Could that be a Lippe rose on the hilt??? Bill

The Principality of Lippe-Detmold was attached to IR 55. As the commander of IR 74 he is shown in the proper uniform with the waterloo bandeau on his helmet plate. Everything is correct and I can rest easy. Thanks Guys. Bill

Joe, When he was killed in action did it tell which unit he was attached to? Was he a honorary head of a regiment? Nobility perishing on the battlefield????

Joe, Does the Gasthaus ring a bell??? Bill