Baden Private Purchase NCO

[b.loree]

I picked up this helmet pre covid at the SOS. It has several interesting characteristics and I would invite some comments from our more experienced collectors et al. The photos:

M91 posts, an officer wappen (pierced crown) and front visor trim.

The piece did not come with kokarden or chin strap. The brass fittings on the strap are original, the leather is modern.

A private purchase OR style spine with no slider vent.

This style of liner was used 1842- 1880 (Larcade vol. 1 pg. 30) and favoured as an "extra helm" by "sous officiers" . Note that the underside of the visors are not lined with red and green leather. The officer wappen is screw backed with the usual square brass nuts and I had to replace one of the spike brads which although original, does not match the other 3. These three are original to the helmet as they match the overall configuration. Note as well, the private purchase style spine. We can also see that the original spike is designed to be removed for the parade trichter.

However, for some unknown reason the spike top is soldered in place. I like this helmet very much and would invite comments from the membership for more information.

 

[Amybellars]

Very nice piece of history

 

[CLOVIS 57]

This style of liner was used 1842- 1880 Exactly, for officers, after 1880 the sweatband appeared in basane, beige, with a silk base. On the other hand, the black leather lining, with its guilloche pattern and double hole for the adjustment lace, will continue to be used for the Extra-Helms from Einjähger-Freiwilliger, Portepee etc...

 

[Steve Nick]

Brian:

A very nice Private Purchase piece. I suspect that the poor quality soldering of the spike was a post war mess created by a not very experienced solderer. You can see the scratch marks where someone used pliers or something to hold the top in place as the heat was applied.

The problem is once the solder has wetted itself to the brass it's virtually impossible to get it off short of sanding the brass to the point where the solder has been removed which just creates another type of mess.

 

[b.loree]

My thanks for all the comments. Steve, it is odd that this soldering was done. As can be seen interior photo, the spike screw post and nut are still there. Perhaps the soldered disc inside the spike cone had come lose?? Who knows? However, it will stay that way as long as I own the helmet.

 

[Steve Nick]

My thanks for all the comments. Steve, it is odd that this soldering was done. As can be seen interior photo, the spike screw post and nut are still there. Perhaps the soldered disc inside the spike cone had come lose?? Who knows? However, it will stay that way as long as I own the helmet.

I was thinking much the same. I figured that maybe the threaded post was missing, or the entire spike top was missing and a non-threaded top was soldered in place.

Regardless, it's still a good quality item with a story to tell.