Hi guys,
I thought that I would add an update to my next project - the restoration of the 1st Empire Cuirassier helmet. I achieved a major milestone today, well at least in my eyes. Today I received a French child's / theatre helmet which utilised the original ailerons for an officers cuirassier helmet. The ailerons have been cut down but can be fixed by fixing them to a backing plate to add the top ridge that has been cut away. The key thing is that the key diagnostic parts / features are present.
To say that I am chuffed is an understatement. I had originally seen this helmet on a French site in early August. I arranged to purchase the item and to ensure a quick payment used western Union - the seller refused PayPal after the deal was agreed and direct deposit can take over a week from Australia. After the payment was made the seller accused me of fraud, refused to sell to someone outside of France and cancelled the deal. I lost the transfer fess and was more than a little miffed. He was also more than a little abusive during the process.
I tried again a couple of days later through a seller I know from another site and who has always been friendly and reliable. He also received the same level of abuse and the original seller refused to deal with him - he had worked out that we were linked. I made a third attempt through another seller I know about a month later - in that time the original seller had halved the price as he had received no other interest. This time it went according to plan, although the original seller remained rude and less than responsive. As a bit of a gee up I contacted the seller and offered him the original price. He again refused and replied with the same level of abuse. I responded by telling him he would not get a better deal and that he would be lucky to sell the item. Well he obviously sold it and I ended up paying less than half the original price, including postage firstly within France and then to Australia.
Moral of the story. Adapt and overcome! Oh and don't F### with an Aussie!
By the way the helmet also had a set of restoration / second empire shako jugulaires and a first empire rosette / bosettes. So the sale of these items will cover all of my expenses and maybe leave me a little extra for a bourbon or two - no doubt I will be toasting the seller as I drink it.
As for the rest of the helmet restoration, I am in the process of purchasing a plaque du cimier and a marmouset from the Gaignon dealer in France. They make restoration pieces for a number of museums in France and are the best option to complete the helmet while I search for original parts - which may be a much longer process than my GdC.
Regards
Steve :guns:
