East Asia helmets

[Robert]

Has anyone ever seen an East Asian helmet live? A few years ago there was one for sale online but the price was over 2000 Euro (I saved the pictures though). Two things cought my interest about it at that time: the separated back spine which allowes the neck piece to be flapped upwards for ventilation, and the fact that a regular line eagle was mounted instead of an Imperial one.

Recently I saw a postcard with such an helmet with an Imperial eagle.
What is your opinion about the eagle, and was the folding neck piece standard on such helmets?

(The owner is unknown to me and I am posting these pictures without permision, so I guess I should add that I will remove them on request of the owner.)

 

[joerookery]

Robert,

I have never handled such a helmet. These are pictures taken by Randy Trawnik in the back room at Rastatt.

My understanding was that these were experimental helmets. Prototypes if you would. I don't think either of them would contain the BOA mark. All opinion here no real knowledge.

 

[b.loree]

Robert, also note the extra vent holes in the neck of the spike on both of these examples. These helmets are well documented in the reference books. Brian

 

[Robert]

Interesting to see this absolutely identical helmet with a saxon plate. So evidently national plates were definitely in common use.

The inside apears to be unmarked as you supposed.

 

[chrispaulodale]

As I understand it, the East Asian Expeditionary Corps went out to China in 1900 with standard leather Picklehauben. They wore state Wappen and cockades.

In 1901 a new Pickelhaube was introduced made of grey/green felt with grey/green leather peaks front and rear. This Pickelhaube had the Imperial Wappen and only the imperial cockade.

The helmets do not fit into either category, so in my opinion are not from the East Asian forces.

Here's some photos of the similar 1901 Shako version seen on Der Rittmeister website-
http://www.derrittmeister.com/productpages/3308.htm

Cheers
Chris

 

[chrispaulodale]

...and there's an East Asian Infantry Pickelhaube photographed and for sale here-
http://www.germanmilitaria.com/Imperial/photos/G008258.html

Cheers
Chris

 

[Robert]

Yep, allthough that is the felt covered type like in Joes post (http://pickelhaubes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3880). I really lack the understanding of the two types. Where they both 1900 models for the expedition corps?

I noticed the spike bases are also similar but with some differences. The felt type has normal brads. It is also more slender while the cloth covered type with the folding neck piece has an extra ring and no brads:

Compare the other:

So this image appears to show the cloth type (does it?):