Hi All,
Just purchased my 3rd GDC - this time an officer's!
A few observations - any comments welcomed.
1). Erzatz cardboard and horsehair liner with leather liner & cotton sweatband.
2). Tombak shell, but much thinner than my two other OR and NCO issued versions.
3). One piece rear peak (3 sections of lobstertail are one pressing as opposed to 3 separate pieces).
4). Incredibly fine Wappen detailing - should the laural leafs be green with red seeds as some of the enamel is missing? (white enamel backing to "SUUM CUIQUE", black / green adler).
5). The Wappen was originally silver wash plated or nickel plated (but very thinly, which accounts for the use of erzatz manufacture) - should the outer bezel and inner bezel rings be also silver plated as the reverse fixing flanges seem to suggest?
6). The 4 fixing holes in the helmet shell are all the same distance apart ( to suit an officers cruiciform spike-base when not worn on parade). This again suggests an officer private purchase item (NB all assembly parts are marked "5".
7). Also interesting is the fixing nuts to the wappen and adler base - THEY ARE ALL THE SAME PATTEN, even though the adler mounting plate is oval (suggestive of OR's). I'm now convinced that officers also used the oval adler base asewell as NCOs and OR's; especially during the war years (check out some of the contemporary photos).
Well, onwards with the restoration to it's former glory! Will post some photos.
Regards,
Martin.
Just purchased my 3rd GDC - this time an officer's!
A few observations - any comments welcomed.
1). Erzatz cardboard and horsehair liner with leather liner & cotton sweatband.
2). Tombak shell, but much thinner than my two other OR and NCO issued versions.
3). One piece rear peak (3 sections of lobstertail are one pressing as opposed to 3 separate pieces).
4). Incredibly fine Wappen detailing - should the laural leafs be green with red seeds as some of the enamel is missing? (white enamel backing to "SUUM CUIQUE", black / green adler).
5). The Wappen was originally silver wash plated or nickel plated (but very thinly, which accounts for the use of erzatz manufacture) - should the outer bezel and inner bezel rings be also silver plated as the reverse fixing flanges seem to suggest?
6). The 4 fixing holes in the helmet shell are all the same distance apart ( to suit an officers cruiciform spike-base when not worn on parade). This again suggests an officer private purchase item (NB all assembly parts are marked "5".
7). Also interesting is the fixing nuts to the wappen and adler base - THEY ARE ALL THE SAME PATTEN, even though the adler mounting plate is oval (suggestive of OR's). I'm now convinced that officers also used the oval adler base asewell as NCOs and OR's; especially during the war years (check out some of the contemporary photos).
Well, onwards with the restoration to it's former glory! Will post some photos.
Regards,
Martin.
