1881 helmet - American

[Treebs]

Earlier this year i purchased this which i believe is an american blue cloth artillery helmet with red plume. it has a white metal number 2 in the middle of the brass eagle badge. Not a pickelhaube as such but an interesting helmet non the less. Struggling to find out much about it though.
the interior claims it was made by ridabook & co new york.
Any help?

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[ww1czechlegion]

Hi,

Nice M1881 helmet. The red cords & hair plume were worn by Artillery personel. And the "2" on the frontplate would be for 2nd Artillery Regiment. These U.S. "spike" helmets have increased tremendously in value in the past few years, especially in light of the popularity of the eBay venue which brings in a whole new field of collectors. Looks like a great helmet!

Alan Schaefer

 

[Treebs]

Thankyou for your comment. Do you know of any good websites that focus on the 1881 helmet?
heres some more pictures

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[Peter_Suciu]

Very nice helmet. There are a couple of good books on the subject, including Gordon Chappell's Brass Spikes and Horsehair Plumes, and Mark Kassal and Don Moore's A Gudie to U.S. Army Dress Helmets.

These can be found on eBay.