FWR bird

pointystuff

pointystuff

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https://www.ebay.com/itm/WWI-Pickelhaub-Prussian-Helmet-Eagle-Plate/222711694939?hash=item33daa6c65b:g:ylIAAOSwdSRZ9cj3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The attaching loops are odd, to begin with...
 
Lack of crisp details......soft rounded edges. A granular appearance due to small bubbles in the “copy” surface when it is made. Full name for the process is Galvanoplasty. Another way to identify.......drop the wappen on a glass surface. Originals “ring” copies do not....”thunk”.
 
Original wappen were die stamped. An incredibly detailed die was carved out by a master craftsman. The die then is used stamp out the helmet plate. You will find M15 plates that lack details because the dies were not replaced during the war and the “crisp details” were worn down. Other grey M15’s do have the quality of the brass originals.
 
Thanks for the explanation - I worked for many years in a stamping plant (auto bodies) and I do know a little about metal stamping. The Galvanoplasty is something I'm not all that up on. Is it a pressure type casting?
 
Galvano refers to electroforming, which is basically a really thick electroplate.

A rubber mold is made of the helmet plate, then the mold is painted with conductive material.

The mold and a piece of copper (anode) are wired to accept direct current and suspended in a container of acid.

As the acid dissolves the copper, the electricity draws it to the mold and builds up copper deposits.

It may take several days to build up enough copper to form a helmet plate.

As noted above, the reverse of the helmet plates made this way often have a rough, nodule-studded appearance.

The front will sometimes have a pinkish tint as the copper begins to show through the silver or gold plating.

Depending on how well the electroforming is done, these "galvano" plates can be pretty convincing at times.

Any flaws in the mold will appear in the finished surface.
 
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