Front Visor trim replacement

seagull

seagull

Well-known member
One of my helmets came with just the right side two inches of the (squared) brass visor trim still surviving - the rest had gone. Question is, should I try to find an original (loose) visor to salvage the trim or buy a modern replacement from someone like Spikehelmet? Another helmet has the front visor missing entirely - I will be placing a Wanted ad in the WTB section for that one.
Thanks for any advice,
Steve
 
Speaking from experience, it is very hard to find visor trim of any kind that will fit a helmet. The hardest to find is the squared trim. Even if you buy a repro from Spikehelmet in Poland it probably will not fit. The only sure way would be to send him the helmet so he could make a custom fit. I don’t believe he offers this service. In truth, you could buy 12 pieces of original trim and none would fit or you could get lucky, it is a real crap shoot.
 
Thanks Brian, I more than half expected this would be the case but I am pretty persistent in my various searches! I will have to go on looking for a 'beater' helm with ruined/no leather to at least attempt a replacement until I find something close enough.
Best, Steve
 
Sorry Steve to be so negative in the response. Unfortunately, as one who went down that rabbit hole decades ago, that has been my experience. I probably have 12 pieces of visor trim in my parts drawer, a mixture of brass and steel, the same with spines but none of them fit the 6 helmets I have sitting waiting to be completed. Many of us Haube Collectors buy pieces missing fittings, thinking...if I search long enough I will find "The Grail" to complete the helmet. I am 14 years in looking for an Anhalt wappen for my M95 helmet marked to JR 93. :)
 
I agree with Brian that it's a crap shoot trying to find a front visor trim that fits another helmet.

I have a guard Eisenbahn Battalion helmet where I have several visor trim parts that don't fit. I finally found one that is too large and will have to be reshaped a bit and cut down on one end.

I have 2-other helmets, an M95 that's missing a visor trim piece, and an M15 that I'd like to replace with a nicer visor trim piece. I already have an extra M95 visor trim for the M95 that ended up being a little too short.

Best Wishes,

Alan
 
Thanks everyone for the good advice, it is much appreciated. However,... I have found a helmet with the correct visor (for the helmet that needs a complete replacement) and it will potentially fit! I measured across the curve of the skull between the centres of the dome rivets (exactly 22cm) and it is a spot-on match to the helmet that needs it, BUT,.. Now I have a worse problem! The 'beater' helmet has nothing on it except for that squared front visor complete with silvered trim. It came with a silver Dragoon eagle (not attached)that is in dreadfully brittle condition, broken in parts and that alone is the subject of another plea for advice on how to save it. I have stared at it for hours now and find myself wondering if it (the 'beater') could itself be saved? Against is the fact that it has virtually nothing remaining of the original metalwork but, in it's favour, I am thinking that the stitching holes WILL match up for a re-stitch and will definitely NOT be so easy to attach to the other skull. I think I hear the Gods laughing!
With thanks,
Steve.Dragoon1.JPGDSCF9075.JPGDSCF9074.JPGDragoon2.JPG
 
I think you've solved you visor issue, as to the Wappen,Looks like some one tried to flatten it. I suggest taking it to a jeweler (a real one) and see what they could do for you. Explain that you don't want to see any repair work from the front. I've done a couple of them using solder but they were truly junk ones. A good one I would have somebody who knows what they are doing try. Good luck
 
Thanks AICUSV , Actually the wappen has a really deep curvature. It looked perfect when I first saw at it but the guy selling it to me dropped it on the floor before I even touched it, and it just ... broke! That is how brittle it is. Could it perhaps be annealed to restore some flexibility to the whole thing? In it's present state it would not stand up to moving the broken parts into alignment for soldering. Still looking for an EM squared brass trim for the other one!
Steve
 
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