An other mortar company helmet

joerookery

joerookery

Well-known member
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330156205393&indexURL=7#ebayphotohosting

The impressed mark appears to be of recent vintage. I wonder why all of the references miss this important skull attachment?
 
First off, the Totenkopf on this helmet is the fake that has been appearing on de-bay over the last year or so. I was recently ripped-off and bought one of these. the photo on the de-bay auction was blurrly and I thought I saw original features.

The fakes have one poorly-defined hole for the nose and are poorly finished around the entire circumference. Originals have two holes for the nose and are better quality overall. I am still looking for an original Braunschweig pattern.

Plus, even if this helmet existed (which it did not) that skull is the private-purchase patterm which would never be on a M15 helmet.

I am still looking for an original Braunschweig pattern Totenkopf, but all I have is this fake mocking me..........

Chip has indicated that there was at least a prototype of a Haube with a skull on it for officers of the Flammenwerfer detachment of the 5.(Rohr) Sturm Bataillon (read officer's Garde eagle Wappen) , but beyond one published article about it (never seen it) I have seen no information, no proof of this.
 
Larcade is relatively precise regarding this helmet plate (p 144):
It was requested in 1916 by the Kronprinz to adorn the helmet of officers (and only officers...) of the flame-thrower section in the Sturm Bataillon 5 (Rohr). The new plate was approved by the Kaiser, then by the Kriegsministerium on June 3rd and 6th, 1916. The helmet was that of the Garde Pioneer officers, with the small skull and bones added at the bottom of the Garde star. As of the rarity of the item, Larcade adds that officers in this section were in the number of... 2.
Bruno
 
Chip has indicated that there was at least a prototype of a Haube with a skull on it for officers of the Flammenwerfer detachment of the 5.(Rohr) Sturm Bataillon (read officer's Garde eagle Wappen) , but beyond one published article about it (never seen it) I have seen no information, no proof of this.
Click to expand...

On page 190 of Hilsenbeck such a helmet is pictured. In the caption he says there were only two officers in the Abteilung. Stubbs has a picture of the plate.... but only two officers... I'm sure there are more than a few fakes out there.
 
joerookery said:
On page 190 of Hilsenbeck such a helmet is pictured. In the caption he says there were only two officers in the Abteilung. Stubbs has a picture of the plate.... but only two officers... I'm sure there are more than a few fakes out there.
Click to expand...

Joe, is there any chance you could e-mail a scan of those two pictures? Thank you, that would be much appreciated.

Personally, I am confident EVERY example that exists today is a fake, like the line Train officer that keeps showing up with a Totenkopf hammered on. Flamen-Train battalion perhaps?
 
I am still going through papers and articles and letters from the 1960s. There are pages and pages of arguments about these very kinds of helmets. Some are pro-and some are against -- nothing definitive so far -- lots of ground about two helmets. One of the largest arguments against the helmets is that some collectors in the 1960s thought you would never put a Braunschweig skull on a Prussian helmet. Some discussion that there was also a skull on the headgear of the first company 16 Pioneer Battalion. Also lots of discussions about metal helmets and one-year volunteers.
 
Just like Santa showing up once a year, one a year someone hammers a bogus Braunschweig private-purchase pattern Totenkopf on a helmet and "presto" it is Flammenwerfer or Mienenwerfer or what-ever the dealer wants to call it.

http://cgi.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250196396583
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top