ERSATZ tip helmet in aluminum or tombac.

[CLOVIS 57]

The Ersatz line continues, this time with bombs made of “rare” and semi-precious metals.
1---tombac shell.
The same existen in aluminum, the same shape, and the same detail, i.e. a reinforcing steel wire all around the helmet, with the aluminum or tombac wrapped around it. Many metal hull manufacturers lined the hull with a felt cap. This precise manufacture, with steel wire edging, was made in tombac or duralumin. The manufacturer is
Schneller à Breslau.

Here's a “tombac” of this brand, found during excavations. If it had been made of steel, the shell would have disappeared, eaten away by corrosion.
Obviously, the skull protection was no better than that of regulation “leather”.


I end with a Schneller identical to mine but in Duraluminium.
Also very rare, I'm lucky enough to have it at a neighbor's house 10kms from my home.

And a Schneller-Breslau, still of the same shape and construction, but this time in sheet steel.

The trim is standard except for a few details, and from a distance, the helmet really looks like a leather “Kammer”.

 

[CLOVIS 57]

2---Aluminum hulls (Dural or Duralumin) are rare. It has to be said that in 1914, aluminum was a newly discovered alloy, expensive to manufacture, and contrary to the notion of Ersatz.
As mentioned above, I haven't had the opportunity to get my hands on an aluminum Schneller. But not long ago, a collector offered me this one... It's the least beautiful in terms of condition, but the rarest in terms of construction.



This production process is Hugo BARUCH - Berlin.
Black-painted aluminum shell, perforated at the edge for sewing on the visor and regulation leather neck cover.

This helmet is regimented at Reckruten-Depot 102, and assigned to an instructor in this unit, which is responsible for training recruits for Ersatz-Bataillon 1 and 2 / 102R, in Zittau and Löbau.

As for the “vulkanfiber”, the “tombac” “alu” or black sheet metal, really resemble the M95 model, Kammer in leather, the trim being of the same appearance.

 

[b.loree]

More helmets that I have never seen before! James and I did see an aluminum Bavarian officer helmet one year at the SOS militaria show.

 

[CLOVIS 57]

More helmets that I have never seen before! James and I did see an aluminum Bavarian officer helmet one year at the SOS militaria show.

Yes, the fact that an officer's Extra-Helm Eigentum is made of aluminum is hard enough to believe, but until I acquired mine, I never thought I'd have to buy one.
Furthermore, for an Ersatz, I find its manufacture slow, difficult and expensive. Moreover, this is what a collector confirmed to me a few years ago about Baruch, the small number could be explained by the fact that it would be a few units, serving as a "Probe" for the army, but never authorized for production. The few units already produced were then distributed to the mobilization, where the bottom line had to be scraped.

 

[Amybellars]

More helmets that I have never seen before! James and I did see an aluminum Bavarian officer helmet one year at the SOS militaria show.

I saw that one too. It comes with the carrier and I stupidly think it's a fake. Lol

 

[J.LeBrasseur]

The one at SOS had issues, here is a good one I picked up a couple years ago.

James

 

[CLOVIS 57]

Hello James,
Exceptional and rare. Congratulations
Officer's helmets, bought off the shelf, are fancy Extra-Helm and of superior quality in their design, aluminum being a new, light and relatively rustproof alloy, nothing surprising for an “officer's” manufacture. (which is not the case for an Ersatz de Kammer). In France, it's the same story, with a few rare Adrian General's helmets in aluminum. )

 

[giorgio]

As you know I'm a beginner...and honestly, sometimes I'm a bit scared by the amount of variations of these fantastic helmets......
But anyway thanks for sharing......really great helmets....
Regards
Giorgio

 

[CLOVIS 57]

The one at SOS had issues, here is a good one I picked up a couple years ago.

James

Hi James, thanks for sharing.
Here's another aluminum helmet with a ventilation cross in my archives. It's also a Bavarian (KB-Police) I think it was a Bavarian manufacturer, from Extra-Helm. I don't know of any “Kammer” made in this way.

 

[J.LeBrasseur]

Hi James, thanks for sharing.
Here's another aluminum helmet with a ventilation cross in my archives. It's also a Bavarian (KB-Police) I think it was a Bavarian manufacturer, from Extra-Helm. I don't know of any “Kammer” made in this way.
View attachment 51923View attachment 51924

I love it, thanks for sharing!

 

[Peter B]

Hi James, thanks for sharing.
Here's another aluminum helmet with a ventilation cross in my archives. It's also a Bavarian (KB-Police) I think it was a Bavarian manufacturer, from Extra-Helm. I don't know of any “Kammer” made in this way.
View attachment 51923View attachment 51924

I love this helmet!

 

[HatEnjoyer]

Hi James, thanks for sharing.
Here's another aluminum helmet with a ventilation cross in my archives. It's also a Bavarian (KB-Police) I think it was a Bavarian manufacturer, from Extra-Helm. I don't know of any “Kammer” made in this way.
View attachment 51923View attachment 51924

Awesome helm, Clovis, those photos are amazing!

 

[Andy be Prussian]

Here’s one I have from Würrtemberg that has a similar shape like the one you have Clovis, albeit it’s missing the brass visor and neck rails and has a back stud. Does it look like the same manufacturer made this too, or someone else?