German model 18 tanker helmet
- Thread starter timp_be
- Start date
Andy be Prussian
Well-known member
Wow! Quite the helmet and really cool to see this up close in detail. Really interesting to see a Eisenhüttenwerk Thale mark with its respective size number in the liner band. Does the cap seem to be a regular stalhelm that’s been modified with only the top half being made? Or does it look like a completely different one altogether? Thank you for showing this!
Peter_Suciu
Well-known member
IMA-USA had one for sale a while ago:
www.ima-usa.com
It is a helmet I had never heard of previously.
Original Imperial German WWI Panzer Tanker Lederschutzhelm Leather Crash Helmet - Formerly Part of the A.A.F. Tank Museum
Original Item: Only One Available. Here we have a fantastic Imperial German WWI Lederschutzhelm (Leather Crash Helmet), used by the earliest Panzer Tanker troops during "The Great War". These are extremely rare, and is the first example that we have had. During those days armored warfare was in...
www.ima-usa.com
It is a helmet I had never heard of previously.
2nd.Leibhusar
Well-known member
Superb find Michel 
...
Truly a rare beast and great photos.
Thank you very much for showing us
...Truly a rare beast and great photos.
Thank you very much for showing us
poniatowski
Well-known member
Super! Having been a tank enthusiast and tanker helmet collector, I can honestly say, THAT is quite a find! I've been fortunate as well, with two US 'infantry tanker' helmets, one is the more common Rawlings, in mint condition and the other is the very rare Sears Saddlery. Also, the M18 barely visible behind the Sears type is a German M18 Stahlhelm taken in N. Africa. According to somebody on 'helmnet', the M18 in the apple green was only used by Panzer troops in N. Africa... but I really don't know. It IS a veteran bring-back, so I know it is from the Afrika Korps.
Thanks for sharing the photos.
Ron
Thanks for sharing the photos.
Ron
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John Josef
Well-known member
Hi Michel,
That is a very interesting and incredible find, would you be able to provide any information on the pad and liner system.
It looks like the regular M18 liner system, you can see parts of the original leather pads which are now missing.
Was it the typical M18 liner three pads set up or were there additional pads that were made specifically for the Tanker Helmet.
I think you have something really special here. Maybe even a one of a kind or an experimental prototype steel helmet for German tank crews that never went into production. That rolled rim is very convincing.
Most of the Armor enthusiast here myself included have seen the pictures of the A7V crews in the many books on the subject and there seems to be several versions of the tanker helmet or at least several different helmets that were worn.
Most helmets were some form or variant of the Leather padded Pilot helmet, but this is the first steel helm I've personally seen.
I would be very grateful if you could provide more pictures and information on the construction of your helmet. I have some questions like how the outer pad is attached to the steel shell. ect ect.
If you would prefer to keep this information private or secret, I would completely understand sadly there are some who make a living trying to reproduce rare items. If you would prefer to answer in private message that would be fine with me, I'm just really curious and excited so any additional information would be greatly appreciated.
MFG John Josef
That is a very interesting and incredible find, would you be able to provide any information on the pad and liner system.
It looks like the regular M18 liner system, you can see parts of the original leather pads which are now missing.
Was it the typical M18 liner three pads set up or were there additional pads that were made specifically for the Tanker Helmet.
I think you have something really special here.
Maybe even a one of a kind or an experimental prototype steel helmet for German tank crews that never went into production. That rolled rim is very convincing. Most of the Armor enthusiast here myself included have seen the pictures of the A7V crews in the many books on the subject and there seems to be several versions of the tanker helmet or at least several different helmets that were worn.
Most helmets were some form or variant of the Leather padded Pilot helmet, but this is the first steel helm I've personally seen.
I would be very grateful if you could provide more pictures and information on the construction of your helmet. I have some questions like how the outer pad is attached to the steel shell. ect ect.
If you would prefer to keep this information private or secret, I would completely understand sadly there are some who make a living trying to reproduce rare items. If you would prefer to answer in private message that would be fine with me, I'm just really curious and excited so any additional information would be greatly appreciated.
MFG John Josef
Last edited:
Kaiser Wilhelm II
Well-known member
Very interesting, I have never seen such a helmet.
Maple Creek
Active member
Der Rittmeister had one of these for sale a few years ago. It’s an exceedingly rare thing! Great catch! Interesting to see the detail and note the similarity in construction with the standard M18. Is anything known about the history of this particular piece?
Zebedeus
Well-known member
Wow. An exceptional helmet. Truly one of the rarest Imperial German helmets.
Congratulations Timp_be.
timp_be
Active member
Hello and thank you for your comments.
The helmet sold by IMA-USA is not the same model and, in my opinion, not German.
If anyone has a photo of the one that was for sale at Der Rittmeister, please share, as I recall it wasn't the same model either.
The outer headband, padded with horsehair, is apparently attached by the screws visible on the inside. The missing liner is apparently the standard Model 18. The shell is for me not a regular model 18 modified.
Best regards,
timp_be
The helmet sold by IMA-USA is not the same model and, in my opinion, not German.
If anyone has a photo of the one that was for sale at Der Rittmeister, please share, as I recall it wasn't the same model either.
The outer headband, padded with horsehair, is apparently attached by the screws visible on the inside. The missing liner is apparently the standard Model 18. The shell is for me not a regular model 18 modified.
Best regards,
timp_be
John Josef
Well-known member
Here is another potential variant of the non-steel leather padded version German Tankers Helmet and its liner system for comparison.
Regards John Josef
Regards John Josef
John Josef
Well-known member
Thank you for taking the time to answer my question about the liner system it confirms my thoughts
I agree this is not a modified shell but a totally new creation, the rolled rim is very convincing of that.
Your helmet is IMO original and one of a kind, I was thinking it was the same one that is in the Heimdal book and it is which I guess makes you Herr Timperman.
I believe if the war would have lasted and your helmet may have been put into production. In the infancy of German armor, they were looking and researching designs, using and modifying what they already had like the padded Pilot helmets.
Thanks again for taking time to share your beautiful helmet. It may be the only surviving steel varient.
Congratulations on owning it, I'm sure I'm not the only one that would love to hear any history you may have to share and the story of how you acquired it. Maybe a flomarkt.
MFG John Josef
John Josef
Well-known member
Here you go, I'm not 100% percent certain on this one that's why I call it another possible varient.
It could be from another Country, but the markings and liner system look to be of German Origin.
It's such a rare Helmet that it's hard to believe that a specimen could have remained untouched over the last 108 years. Finding one in original condition or any condition really is just such a wonderful treasure,
Again Congratulations, that may be one of the best Ebay.de finds I've ever heard of.
MFG John Josef
