Full-Visor Stahlhelm/Sloped Brow Stahlhelm: Rare M16/M18 Variant – Documentation & research shared - Need help with further research
- Thread starter odraodez
- Start date
Hi,
Very interesting research, also shows how difficult it can be to corroborate a history with period photographs. I'm still searching for pictures of the M18 helmet (the one without the cut-out for the ears) actually being used in the war zone
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The picture of the Kaiserjäger has been retouched imo. I found the same photo (in "Eine ganze Welt gegen Uns", Ullstein 1934) but now the visor and front of the helmet show up as almost white. My theory is that in the original picture the sunlight reflected off of the front of the helmet and overexposed that area, and retouchers have tried to add some shape to the helmet.
The photo of the observers in the trench is blurry in the critical areas. I can see a black shape with a straight edge right in front of the visor, where the tip of the visor just intersects, giving the impression of the "full" visor. Only a higher resolution of that picture could allow us to decide either way.
What worries me a bit is the information you put on "Warrelics": "During the first months of 2020 I found it at 150€ on the Italian site Subito.it sold by Roberto Stevanin (a quite famous collector and seller in the Italian community, I suggest you to follow him on Instagram and Facebook). He usually sells Italian and Austrian stuff, so maybe this could link it to the photo of the Austrian soldier.". In 2020 no collector (let alone a famous one) would sell a rare or even a normal German / Austrian helmet for 150€, so this has my alarm bells ringing.
Hope some more definitive info will be found,
Regards,
Lars
Very interesting research, also shows how difficult it can be to corroborate a history with period photographs. I'm still searching for pictures of the M18 helmet (the one without the cut-out for the ears) actually being used in the war zone
.The picture of the Kaiserjäger has been retouched imo. I found the same photo (in "Eine ganze Welt gegen Uns", Ullstein 1934) but now the visor and front of the helmet show up as almost white. My theory is that in the original picture the sunlight reflected off of the front of the helmet and overexposed that area, and retouchers have tried to add some shape to the helmet.
The photo of the observers in the trench is blurry in the critical areas. I can see a black shape with a straight edge right in front of the visor, where the tip of the visor just intersects, giving the impression of the "full" visor. Only a higher resolution of that picture could allow us to decide either way.
What worries me a bit is the information you put on "Warrelics": "During the first months of 2020 I found it at 150€ on the Italian site Subito.it sold by Roberto Stevanin (a quite famous collector and seller in the Italian community, I suggest you to follow him on Instagram and Facebook). He usually sells Italian and Austrian stuff, so maybe this could link it to the photo of the Austrian soldier.". In 2020 no collector (let alone a famous one) would sell a rare or even a normal German / Austrian helmet for 150€, so this has my alarm bells ringing.
Hope some more definitive info will be found,
Regards,
Lars
odraodez
New member
«In 2020 no collector (let alone a famous one) would sell a rare or even a normal German / Austrian helmet for 150€, so this has my alarm bells ringing.»
My reason is that he didn't actually know what he had. It is a rare model that is almost unheard of, even the MITAG didn't know about it. Also, at first glance it seemed like a normal M16, so probably this is also a factor.
I still have to contact Stefanini tho, one day when I will have the courage I will do so.
Also about the Kaiserjäger photo, you're right. I thought that it was concrete proof but some other collector also suggested that it could have been a touch up.
Anyways, thanks for the help.
P.S. I will also try from now on to search for photographs from WW1 showing the regular M18 in use, seems a fun research.
My reason is that he didn't actually know what he had. It is a rare model that is almost unheard of, even the MITAG didn't know about it. Also, at first glance it seemed like a normal M16, so probably this is also a factor.
I still have to contact Stefanini tho, one day when I will have the courage I will do so.
Also about the Kaiserjäger photo, you're right. I thought that it was concrete proof but some other collector also suggested that it could have been a touch up.
Anyways, thanks for the help.
P.S. I will also try from now on to search for photographs from WW1 showing the regular M18 in use, seems a fun research.