Field Grey Painted Imperial Prussian M1915 EM metal Pickelhaube

[Digger1915]

One of my favourite Pickelhaubes. After starting out life as a regular black painted pre-war metal Pickelhaube this one was repainted perhaps mid to late 1915 in field grey. I believe these were dipped in paint as opposed to those we see with brush applied paint. Still retains its nice pliable leather liner beneath which remains the soft felt liner. I like the tiny areas of black paint peaking through as a reminder of it earlier appearance.

Digger1915

 

[b.loree]

Very nice! I have the original black version in my collection.

 

[MAP]

Thats a beauty. On my wish list to add one day.

 

[John Josef]

Beautiful helmet I love it

Is that the original felt liner I see in the top of the helmet.

That's a piece that is most always missing or like mine loose.

 

[Digger1915]

Beautiful helmet I love it

Is that the original felt liner I see in the top of the helmet.

That's a piece that is most always missing or like mine loose.

Hi John,

Yes, it is the original felt liner. The liner itself is so supple it’s amazing after all of these years.

 

[Torch03]

Awesome!

That would be one of my favorites as well! Thanks for sharing it with us!

Matt

 

[Westfront]

Fantastic helmet congrats

 

[John Josef]

Hi John,

Yes, it is the original felt liner. The liner itself is so supple it’s amazing after all of these years.

The condition really looks fantastic

Again, Congratulations on having it in your collection, I really like the overall look and that liner looks mint I doubt it ever was worn I can't see a single sweat mark. I have to say it, if you ever want to move it on, please let me know.

 

[Grabenmaxx]

Oooh, that's a very nice helmet in great condition and with a lot of character. A suoerb piece in any collection.

 

[Riemen95]

Wow, very beautiful

 

[Helmetz]

Wonderful!

 

[poniatowski]

An excellent example! Thanks for sharing.

 

[CLOVIS 57]

Another extraordinary headset, well done. I can tell you more about it!!! A real treat.


Digger 1915 shows us a superb Weissenburger-Cannstadt (Württemberg).
This helmet with M14 brass fittings was not an ‘Ersatz’ but was the subject of a patent filed and protected by DRP (Deutsche Reich Patent), and was the subject of a procurement contract with the Kaiser's Army. It was accepted as an M14 and a number were purchased at a fixed unit price. This helmet, manufactured by Weissenburger (like BING for Bavaria), is of very good quality and is not an Ersatz. Weissenburger generally manufactured Württemberg helmets.
R. von der Heyden, Berlin, was authorised to manufacture this helmet with the same patented details under licence.
Weissenburger helmets are not marked with the manufacturer's name. R. von des Heyden helmets are marked with white paint.


This registered design has numerous distinctive features that make it easily identifiable.

None of the linings meet the M95 ‘Kammer’ standard.
---The shell is made in three parts: the bowl, the visor and the neck cover, which are set in a circular rim like the French Adrian helmet.
---The tip is not secured by four rivets; the rivets are fake, simply stamped into the round base. Here, the tip is also crimped into a hole drilled at the top of the shell (as can be seen in the first photo).






The sheepskin cap is still made of the same high-quality beige leather, with an original press stud fastening (which appears to be missing from the one in this post). It is attached to the shell's rim.

The visor edge strip is thinner than on the M95, and the two rivets are smaller. The rear spine has no ventilation, no neck cover and is secured by two hexagonal nuts.
The bottom of the shell is lined with a brown felt cap.

Even the cockades are specific

The plate:
---Either the eagle (more likely Von der Heyden-Berlin)
---Or the Württemberg plate (more likely Weissenburger-Cannstatt).
Two assemblies:
---On the brass M14 model, a horizontal trigger guard attached with a piece of wood like a ‘toothpick’.

---On the feldgrau iron M15 model, a screw nut in the centre, with the slotted head visible from the front.

There you go, that pretty much covers it. I hope the translator did a good job. Please do not hesitate to ask if you have any questions.

 

[CLOVIS 57]

Digger,
Your Weissenburger or V.d.Heyden is an M15 from May. It is already made entirely of steel, no longer has a rear spine, and is still painted black like the M14.
However, the manufacturer used up its old stock of brass eagles and painted everything Feldgrau. This helmet was Feldgrau when it was delivered. You can see that the plate is already attached using the second type of fastening, with a screw that pins the eagle to its chest. Everything is original. Given the long return of the strap behind the chin strap slider, I guess that the strap is riveted, which is normal.

 

[Digger1915]

Thanks you

Another extraordinary headset, well done. I can tell you more about it!!! A real treat.


Digger 1915 shows us a superb Weissenburger-Cannstadt (Württemberg).
This helmet with M14 brass fittings was not an ‘Ersatz’ but was the subject of a patent filed and protected by DRP (Deutsche Reich Patent), and was the subject of a procurement contract with the Kaiser's Army. It was accepted as an M14 and a number were purchased at a fixed unit price. This helmet, manufactured by Weissenburger (like BING for Bavaria), is of very good quality and is not an Ersatz. Weissenburger generally manufactured Württemberg helmets.
R. von der Heyden, Berlin, was authorised to manufacture this helmet with the same patented details under licence.
Weissenburger helmets are not marked with the manufacturer's name. R. von des Heyden helmets are marked with white paint.

View attachment 70101View attachment 70102View attachment 70103
This registered design has numerous distinctive features that make it easily identifiable.

None of the linings meet the M95 ‘Kammer’ standard.
---The shell is made in three parts: the bowl, the visor and the neck cover, which are set in a circular rim like the French Adrian helmet.
---The tip is not secured by four rivets; the rivets are fake, simply stamped into the round base. Here, the tip is also crimped into a hole drilled at the top of the shell (as can be seen in the first photo).
View attachment 70107View attachment 70108



View attachment 70104

The sheepskin cap is still made of the same high-quality beige leather, with an original press stud fastening (which appears to be missing from the one in this post). It is attached to the shell's rim.
View attachment 70105View attachment 70106
The visor edge strip is thinner than on the M95, and the two rivets are smaller. The rear spine has no ventilation, no neck cover and is secured by two hexagonal nuts.
The bottom of the shell is lined with a brown felt cap.
View attachment 70109
Even the cockades are specific
View attachment 70110
The plate:
---Either the eagle (more likely Von der Heyden-Berlin)
---Or the Württemberg plate (more likely Weissenburger-Cannstatt).
Two assemblies:
---On the brass M14 model, a horizontal trigger guard attached with a piece of wood like a ‘toothpick’.
View attachment 70111View attachment 70113
---On the feldgrau iron M15 model, a screw nut in the centre, with the slotted head visible from the front.
View attachment 70115
There you go, that pretty much covers it. I hope the translator did a good job. Please do not hesitate to ask if you have any questions.

Thank you for the excellent information and photos Clovis.

 

[Digger1915]

Digger,
Your Weissenburger or V.d.Heyden is an M15 from May. It is already made entirely of steel, no longer has a rear spine, and is still painted black like the M14.
However, the manufacturer used up its old stock of brass eagles and painted everything Feldgrau. This helmet was Feldgrau when it was delivered. You can see that the plate is already attached using the second type of fastening, with a screw that pins the eagle to its chest. Everything is original. Given the long return of the strap behind the chin strap slider, I guess that the strap is riveted, which is normal.
View attachment 70136
View attachment 70137

View attachment 70138

Two wonderful examples Clovis. I think Pickelhaubes really epitomise the Great War in many ways as they are somewhat of a last link to the pervious century and the next which was fast forwarded by WW1 and the introduction of modernised helmets, equipment, weapons and planes.

And thank you for taking the time to post these images and information.

Much appreciated.