I bought this helmet for my own collection...a private purchase Hessen from Feld Arty Regt. 25. I state number 25 instead of 61, the other Hessen Feld Artillerie Regt because this kugel unscrews for the parade trichter, 61 does not wear the trichter. There is a lot of work to be done on this helmet as it has suffered a lot of abuse over the years. The helmet is obviously filthy to begin with, sweat band rotted away, rear visor curled and rotten thread. The shell is covered in dust and fittings are heavily oxidized 
. However......with a bit of work....we can change things around!! Both visors have to be taken off, a new original officer sweat band installed, then visors put back on. The silk liner surprisingly, is in decent "nick" as the Brits say so that will be stitched back in. I will also clean the fittings....the scales very lightly to preserve gilding but the rest will be sonically cleaned which will not affect gilding. The before photos:
Note: The Hessen Artillerie Officer did wear the pearl ring on their kugels unlike the Hessen Infantry Officer. Despite being an officer private purchase style helmet, the wappen does not have the officer pierced crown.
Fortunately , the uber rare Hessen officer kokarde is still in place!
Rear visor stitching rotten and we are going to try and straighten the kugel.
Oddly, a couple of missing washers but all original square nuts are there, as well as the rest of the fittings! I have an original sweatband to put in and as I said, the original silk liner is decent. There is a lot of work to be done here but I am really looking forward to adding this to my collection. To be continued...
. However......with a bit of work....we can change things around!! Both visors have to be taken off, a new original officer sweat band installed, then visors put back on. The silk liner surprisingly, is in decent "nick" as the Brits say so that will be stitched back in. I will also clean the fittings....the scales very lightly to preserve gilding but the rest will be sonically cleaned which will not affect gilding. The before photos:Note: The Hessen Artillerie Officer did wear the pearl ring on their kugels unlike the Hessen Infantry Officer. Despite being an officer private purchase style helmet, the wappen does not have the officer pierced crown.
Fortunately , the uber rare Hessen officer kokarde is still in place!
Rear visor stitching rotten and we are going to try and straighten the kugel.
Oddly, a couple of missing washers but all original square nuts are there, as well as the rest of the fittings! I have an original sweatband to put in and as I said, the original silk liner is decent. There is a lot of work to be done here but I am really looking forward to adding this to my collection. To be continued...
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