Boy, Ron, I'm with you! I knew a WWI vet who had collected Pickelhaube before I met him starting right after the 'Great War' (he didn't have even one left at the time we met!) and he said that it was agreed within his group in Washington State never to sell a helmet to another collector (in the group) for more than $1 - $5 than the seller spent on it, depending on the helmet. He was the one who told me about the $50 GdK helmets and that most Pickelhaube went for between $2 to $5 with busted up ones for 50 cents or less. Of course, you could find them at garage sales for a quarter or ten cents, depending (and some people would just give them away if they found you were interested... that only happened to me once, but it was GREAT!). So, all in all, the value of a spiked helmet has gone up much more than the cost of living, inflation, etc.
Of course, that's good and bad. Good, because now they're not 'Junker' helmets (as my grandfather called them), or just garbage to be tossed in the basement or attic to rot, but have some value. Bad, because they often cost too darned much!
But, as of right now, that one on ebay is an absolute bargain in today's market. I wouldn't be surprised if the price doubled before the end of the auction, but then, who knows!
Ron
8) 
