Best Quality Pickelhaubens

R

Rod

New member
Weeeelll I have hesitated to ask this but..... I will show my ignorance...

Over the years that pickelhaubes were manufactured is there a certain German state that is more desirable by collectors on the basis of quality???

I am really new to all this as showed be obvious.

I realize we are talking about over time and yes the fact (I think) that manufacturers could produce item for more than one German state.

In any event I apologize for the spelling as well as the the question.

Rod
 
is there a certain German state that is more desirable by collectors on the basis of quality???
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Rod,

Based on prices the most desirable state is Hesse. This desire has nothing to do with quality or rarity just these helmets are sought after fiercely. I think the leather in some private purchase Bavarian helmets tend to be more fine. That is a gross simplification and it seems like most makers had several levels of quality. You could buy a helmet from the same maker with huge differences in quality. This just probably has more confusion.
 
Rod,
I would agree with Joe that the best quality helmets came from Bavaria. This seemed to hold true even during the war years when supplies were short. You can find superior quality helmets from any state so each helmet should be evaluated on its own merit.
I would also agree with Joe on the Hessen helmets but would add one to that .... Braunschweig. Both are very desirable, rare, and command high prices IF you can find a real one.
If we are talking generalities the helmets from Sachsen seem to have the most variation and are known for their "vanity" helmets. Bill
 
Rod said:
Weeeelll I have hesitated to ask this but..... I will show my ignorance...// In any event I apologize for the spelling as well as the the question.
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Rod I completely disagree with you. Not having years of collecting experience absolutely is not ignorance; having the intellect to ask questions is what separates you from those poor Sods who spends thousands of $ on junk without researching the items.

Asking questions is the smartest thing you can do. :thumbright:
 
Tony & Kaiser wrote

Not having years of collecting experience absolutely is not ignorance; having the intellect to ask questions is what separates you from those poor Sods who spends thousands of $ on junk without researching the items.
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:bravo: :bravo: :bravo: :bravo:

Reservist1
 
Tony and R1 I can but echo your posts!! We are all here to share our knowledge and to learn. There are no silly questions on the forum. In fact, we need the beginner collectors to speak up and ask....how can we help if you do not post your questions? Keep the questions coming Rod!
Re the original comment, I would venture to say that amongst the manufacturers of pickelhauben (officer and private purchase) the Awes Company and Marke Garde du Corps produced a better quality helmet in general. My impression is that they were the high end of the market from those pieces that I have seen. Yes everyone wants a Hessen or Brunswicker these days. Brian
 
Adding to what has been already been stated, we shouldn't ignore issued helmets. Though theses were produced to an established standard, some have survived in a far better state of repair than others.

With an eye toward rarity and condition, and based on actual helmets we've seen on this forum, my vote would go to Bruno's 109. Bruno, who was the manufacturer?

http://www.pickelhaubes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1504

Chas.
 
Hi Chas and all
Bruno's 109 is a hard to beat example of an issued helmet but Tony's M1842 is probably the rarest issued helmet yet!!!! http://pickelhaubes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1796 Bill
 
Hi everybody. I could not access the web for several days. I will check the maker on the 109th.
Remember that Hesse was a "poor" state; Bavaria was wealthier. I have frequently found hessian helmets that had been reconditioned at the time. I have an excellent dragoon officer helmet which is undoubtedly original; yet it still bears the faint print of a different cruciform spike basis.
Bruno
 
Remember that Hesse was a "poor" state; Bavaria was wealthier
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Bruno,

Now that's an interesting thought. I have to scratch my head on this one. Bavaria did indeed pay for their own helmets based on the Constitution, Hesse was provided for in issue equipment by Prussia. Interesting concept if Prussia scraped the cream of the crop somehow gave Hesse the leftovers.

Also an interesting thought about private purchase helmets and the states. I have to give this some more thought.
 
b.loree said:
Re the original comment, I would venture to say that amongst the manufacturers of pickelhauben (officer and private purchase) the Awes Company and Marke Garde du Corps produced a better quality helmet in general. My impression is that they were the high end of the market from those pieces that I have seen. Yes everyone wants a Hessen or Brunswicker these days. Brian
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I would agree with Brain that the Awes Company and Marke Garde du Corps produced a higher qualitity private-purchase helmet, in general. I also would throw out that from observations there seems to be a much higher proportionate number of Saxon officer helmets manufactured by these two producers than we see in all of the other states combined! Is Saxony considered a "wealthier" state?

Dave
 
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