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My next project is a Saxe Leib Garde officer helmet which needs both visors restitched. I won't bother to post the usual "progress photos" as you have all seen these previously. Some "before" shots of this beautiful rare helmet: Excellent condition! The Saxe officer kokarde is classic and we...

It's raining here today, no sun and I need a break from stitching officer helmets so time to rebuild an M67 chin scale. It has been awhile since I have done this so I thought that perhaps the membership might be interested. I restitched the visors on this helmet in January. The helmet belongs to...

My apologies to the members for my "click bait" title but you shall see the reason for it. :) To be continued....

A very specific post here but perhaps some useful information for collectors. As you all know, I do restorations and get sent many different helmets to repair. In order to do these repairs I have to take helmets apart and remove fittings. Consequently, I get to see things which many collectors...

Recently, I have had several members contact me looking for the "donate button" which they could not find on the forum. Personally, I could see it on my laptop but not on my iPad. I contacted Joel about this and he moved the button to an area which is not effected by "screen size". So this is...

My purchases at SOS 25 were limited, I did by a scrapper M15 Prussian (crushed top, red rot liner) from Alan S on my way out the door on Sat afternoon! Thanks again Alan, but other than that only 2 primary pieces (wappen) for my collection. I was more interested in selling things which I had...

TRANSLATION PROBLEMS: To all members: Please be aware that this is an international forum with members speaking many different languages from all over the world. Consequently, many comments made here are going through translation programs and they do screw up! So just keep this in mind and do...

New collectors: At most SOS shows, I come back with at least one helmet that needs work for a customer. In this, case a simple rear visor restitch on a Prussian M15. However, this one provides us with an example of how a brass M95 helmet was converted to the less visible M15 configuration. A...

Edward, here is my email: [email protected]

Well friends, we have one more day at SOS 25 here in Louisville. James and I have been busy touring 2,000 tables of militaria, mostly WW2 German but we did see some Imperial gems! Our first photo is of a beautiful JR 115 officer helme purchased from A of K by member D M. The details on the...

Another special helmet sent to me by Alan S. to do a simple rear visor restitch. This piece is in excellent condition and has awesome pre war Battalion ink markings. Some photos: The coppery tinge to these fitting is no "light trick" I believe they are made of "cupro aluminum" a metalic...

Another helmet sent to me for a bit of repair...Saxe M67. This is in excellent shape other than the fact that the stitching on both visors has rotted away. For our new collectors, these older helmets have a higher profile (dome shape) heavier leather construction, bolt on chin scales and a pearl...

Sandy, thank you for your generous donation to the forum! It is a great pleasure to have you here as a member. We all benefit from your research into the evolution of the pickelhaube! 👍😊

This helmet arrived for restoration today. The main problems here are that the stitching in both visors has rotted out and restitching these is what I am being asked to do. Unfortunately, the interior silk is rough and tattered. The sweat band is also torn, dry and in a very delicate condition...

Some photos of the second helmet I bought a few days ago. A Prussian Landwehr OR helmet model 1895. Again the size is 57 1/2 cm and it comes with a very nice original chin strap but no kokarden. Obviously, the odd thing here is the Officer spike and 3 stars. :unsure: However, I have several...

This helmet is one of two that I picked up recently. The helmet has obviously seen better days as far as "finish" goes. A good 50% + of the surface finish has flaked off unfortunately. There are no kokarden but there is a nice M15 chin strap in great condition. The leather is a bit stiff after...

Continuing on with my series of posts intended to educate new pickelhaube collectors. Our helmets for the most part, were made from leather coated in a shellac water proofing layer. Both of these materials came from "natural" sources and as such reacted to environmental conditions, especially...

The most common wappen that the new collector will encounter next to the Prussian M15 is the brass M95. These are the wappen which were on issued pickelhauben when WW1 started in 1914. Here are two examples which exemplify this model: These have never been cleaned or "messed with" during their...

I posted photos of the unique wappen that comes with this helmet and those have generated some good discussion. Now lets take as look at the more mundane aspects.....restitching the front visor. The helmet was shipped UPS and here we see it as it came out of it's wrappings and box. I have no...

I am restitching a front visor on a helmet owned by a member. Here is the rare wappen from it. Few collectors will ever have the pleasure of examining one of these in hand: I will be posting photos of the restitch in the restoration section. This wappen retains all of it's original gilt...