Anthony Charles
New member
Anthony C. Meldahl, Ersatz Spike Helmet Article. Part 6.0
Document I found in Stuttgart 1989. I spent 1 week in this archive.
REQUEST: If anyone has an example of a Bortfelt Co Cork spike helmet I would be grateful if you would post some photos! Same goes for this companies pith helmets to illustate this article.
(ACM Doc #6.) Ludwig Bortfeldt. Bremen. 2 Okt. 1914. BayHStA. Abt IV Kriegsarchiv Muenchen. M Kr 5102.
Translation:
From: Ludwig Bortfeldt. A German Tropical Helmet Factory.
“The first German Pith Helmet Company”. Founded 1828
Bremen
October 2, 1914
To: The Wartime Clothing Issue Department (Kriegsbekleidungsamt) of the Royal Bavarian I. Army Corps.
Munich
The Royal Prussian Ministry of War ordered from the undersigned himself on Monday, September 14th of this year, based upon the sample they received from us:
20,000 (twenty thousand) cork spike helmets for line infantry.
This cork helmet exactly resembles in form the regulation leather spike helmet, in place of leather we use cork with a water proof field gray cotton covering. The fittings consist of the spike, metal eagle, black cow skin leather chinstrap and the appropriate cockades. This helmet has no front visor trim nor a rear spine stiffener since cork will not twist, shrink and absorb water like leather helmets do. The cork helmet is therefore lighter and more elastic and provides a very comfortable fit.
Since the large wartime demand for the fabrication of leather spike helmets cannot be met, at the present time my company can offer this welcomed replacement.
The price of this cork helmet is:
oooooooooooooooooooooooo E i g h t Marks 50 Pfennig oooooooooooooooo
including packaging and delivery to the Clothing Issue Depot (Bekleidungs amt). My offer remains in effect, since we can continuously produce larger orders. The metal fittings will be produced right here and I will increase production according to the orders I receive.
Respectfully yours,
(signed) Ludwig Bortfeldt
Official Manufacturer for the German Navy
And the Royal Prussian Ministry of War
Document I found in Stuttgart 1989. I spent 1 week in this archive.
REQUEST: If anyone has an example of a Bortfelt Co Cork spike helmet I would be grateful if you would post some photos! Same goes for this companies pith helmets to illustate this article.
(ACM Doc #6.) Ludwig Bortfeldt. Bremen. 2 Okt. 1914. BayHStA. Abt IV Kriegsarchiv Muenchen. M Kr 5102.
Translation:
From: Ludwig Bortfeldt. A German Tropical Helmet Factory.
“The first German Pith Helmet Company”. Founded 1828
Bremen
October 2, 1914
To: The Wartime Clothing Issue Department (Kriegsbekleidungsamt) of the Royal Bavarian I. Army Corps.
Munich
The Royal Prussian Ministry of War ordered from the undersigned himself on Monday, September 14th of this year, based upon the sample they received from us:
20,000 (twenty thousand) cork spike helmets for line infantry.
This cork helmet exactly resembles in form the regulation leather spike helmet, in place of leather we use cork with a water proof field gray cotton covering. The fittings consist of the spike, metal eagle, black cow skin leather chinstrap and the appropriate cockades. This helmet has no front visor trim nor a rear spine stiffener since cork will not twist, shrink and absorb water like leather helmets do. The cork helmet is therefore lighter and more elastic and provides a very comfortable fit.
Since the large wartime demand for the fabrication of leather spike helmets cannot be met, at the present time my company can offer this welcomed replacement.
The price of this cork helmet is:
oooooooooooooooooooooooo E i g h t Marks 50 Pfennig oooooooooooooooo
including packaging and delivery to the Clothing Issue Depot (Bekleidungs amt). My offer remains in effect, since we can continuously produce larger orders. The metal fittings will be produced right here and I will increase production according to the orders I receive.
Respectfully yours,
(signed) Ludwig Bortfeldt
Official Manufacturer for the German Navy
And the Royal Prussian Ministry of War