Steve sent me an email today containing this story about the helmets that were available and prices back in the 1970's era of collecting:
I had been wanting to dig out a few old
helmet photos from the "glory days "
pre- 1992 before I sold every helmet in my collection
that was not Prussian. I am attaching a picture of
the 3 Hessian officer's helmets that I bought back in the 1970's during the beginning years of my collecting helmets.
1. the Hessian Artillery officer with Ludwig Star order
and parade bush was one of the first helmets that
I bought back circa 1970. I was working but not making
that much money . The helmet was a whopping $250
I didn't have the money , but borrowed it . It came from
one of the early collectors from Chicago who oddly
at the time was selling his non-Prussian helmets
as that was the direction that he was going in.
The "old time " collectors , who had been at it for some years
told me that I was crazy . I was buying at " the top of the market "
and I would never get my money back !
2. Hessian I R 115 officer . I bought it a little bit later and paid more
I can't remember who I got it from , but I remember it was
$ 525 or less . Another "top of the market " purchase.
3. The 23 D R ; I am pretty sure that I bought from Lector Orrick
the collector from Calif . He really liked and collected Hessian helmets. I don't remember what I paid, I am sure it was quite a bit more then.
Well, helmets 1 & 2 that I paid a total of $775 for, I remember I sold them back in 1992 for $ 9,500, so much for the "top of the market " price I paid originally! Of course, they are worth even more today.
I think Barry Sanders got them , as he is the Hessian collector but
maybe not all 3.
That story has always stuck with me
about the prices back in 1970 when the old timers advised me not " to get in " because, the prices were too high.
Those 2 Hessian helmets were my " classic examples " about buying and collecting spiked helmets.
I can't say that I was smart and knew what would happen, I didn't care.
I have always liked helmets more than money
It didn't matter to me what they were worth
I just liked them!
That's my Hessian story
Steve
The helmets in question:
Be sure to check out what is "under those helmets" in the glass case!!
I had been wanting to dig out a few old
helmet photos from the "glory days "
pre- 1992 before I sold every helmet in my collection
that was not Prussian. I am attaching a picture of
the 3 Hessian officer's helmets that I bought back in the 1970's during the beginning years of my collecting helmets.
1. the Hessian Artillery officer with Ludwig Star order
and parade bush was one of the first helmets that
I bought back circa 1970. I was working but not making
that much money . The helmet was a whopping $250
I didn't have the money , but borrowed it . It came from
one of the early collectors from Chicago who oddly
at the time was selling his non-Prussian helmets
as that was the direction that he was going in.
The "old time " collectors , who had been at it for some years
told me that I was crazy . I was buying at " the top of the market "
and I would never get my money back !
2. Hessian I R 115 officer . I bought it a little bit later and paid more
I can't remember who I got it from , but I remember it was
$ 525 or less . Another "top of the market " purchase.
3. The 23 D R ; I am pretty sure that I bought from Lector Orrick
the collector from Calif . He really liked and collected Hessian helmets. I don't remember what I paid, I am sure it was quite a bit more then.
Well, helmets 1 & 2 that I paid a total of $775 for, I remember I sold them back in 1992 for $ 9,500, so much for the "top of the market " price I paid originally! Of course, they are worth even more today.
I think Barry Sanders got them , as he is the Hessian collector but
maybe not all 3.
That story has always stuck with me
about the prices back in 1970 when the old timers advised me not " to get in " because, the prices were too high.
Those 2 Hessian helmets were my " classic examples " about buying and collecting spiked helmets.
I can't say that I was smart and knew what would happen, I didn't care.
I have always liked helmets more than money
It didn't matter to me what they were worth
I just liked them!
That's my Hessian story
Steve
The helmets in question:
Be sure to check out what is "under those helmets" in the glass case!!