Hessen Train Bn. Officer.

poniatowski

poniatowski

Well-known member
I'm sure everybody who shops Age of Kings has seen this helmet, which nobody wanted. I think what put people off was the honesty of Randy and Remi. They listed that the plate was 'altered' at some point, having two centrally located attachment holes and two outer ones without studs. That put me off too, until my glacial brain wondered if the outer missing studs still matched the original holes (they did). So, I asked if AOK thought if might be the original plate, with relocated studs. (who knows what oddball things soldiers do?) Anyway, just then another Hessen (Dragoon?) came in to AOK with four identical holes, but all four studs. At that point, MY thought (which may be totally wrong) was that this plate is original to the helmet.

So, this arrived today, storm delayed in the mail, five days after expected, but in great shape and it looks nicer in person than in the photos. All of the photos are form AOK, except the one of it 'fresh from the box' on the kitchen table. I also included one of the back of the Dragoon helmet's plate for comparison. I've missed out on a lot of Hessen Pickelhaube before, so this is my first.

Ron
 

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Nice catch on the mounting holes. The ones I have use 2 centrally located studs, but The additional outer ones make perfect sense, as without them, the wappen is subject to catching on things and bending the outer wappen. Nice helmet! Is the lining material satin?

Ron
 
A very fine Hessian officer's helmet. With its brass fittings and domed crown, it appears to be a TB18.

The two angled attachments on the lion's body are unusual, but sometimes found. This is actually a legacy of the attachments on the older M1848 lions, which can be found notably on the lions of Hessian artillerymen, even occasionally up until 1915!
But the M48 model didn't have branch tips (Hesse Electorale - Cassel). As Ron said, the Grand Ducal Lion of Hesse (Darmstadt) the branches were only attached by a leaf at the top, which was too fragile and it had to be reinforced with two additional side attachments.
Hesse Darmstadt M49 0ff 3 fix.GIF
Here is an officer's lion emblem from the FAR 26 ( M15 , star of the Order of Louis with sword), its mounting points are used to attach the lion to the hull.

Hesse 0ff M15 FAR25-61 Gégé.GIF
Hes Far25 0ff Schwerten.jpg
HesFAR25 étoile 6-4-15 qu'0ff.jpg
And here are two FAR 26 M15 lion emblems, made of steel-grey. They have the same mounting points, diagonally behind the lion's body.
Hesse FAR M15 diagonale-.jpgHesse FAR61 M15 Festwagner_.GIF
 
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Rkinkade said:
Nice catch on the mounting holes. The ones I have use 2 centrally located studs, but The additional outer ones make perfect sense, as without them, the wappen is subject to catching on things and bending the outer wappen. Nice helmet! Is the lining material satin?

Ron
Click to expand...
I really don't know if it's silk or satin. Is there a way to tell? Here's a close-up. To me, it looks satiny. But then, it's old... like me...
 

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I’m not sure of the liner fabric type by looking at the photo. I think satin is silk based, and it is usually tightly woven and very smooth and shiny. Wedding dresses, prom dresses, and fancy evening gowns are satin. The more common liner style we are accustomed to see is raised ribbed silk, although not shiny. Hessian helmets are my favorites!

Ron
 
In my opinion, the weave of that cloth is too coarse to be satin. I have worked on an officer helmet with a similar lining. It is more durable than satin or ribbed silk.
 
Depending on the quality (high or low) and the price, several types of fabric were used. Silk was the most expensive, but there was also sateen, or even cotton serge (gabardine), for the Eigentum, the volunteer soldiers.
 
Thank you all for your kind words, photos and input. Since both Hessen Infantry and Train officers had convex chinscales, is there a way to tell them apart that I'm not aware of?

Cheers!
Ron
 
poniatowski said:
Thank you all for your kind words, photos and input. Since both Hessen Infantry and Train officers had convex chinscales, is there a way to tell them apart that I'm not aware of? Ron
Click to expand...

No. But regarding the infantry officer, the convex scales were a "Hessian" flourish, unlike those of the supply train officer.Regarding the enlisted men's insignia, the points were different
:---116, 118, and 168: fixed fluted point (gold-brass)
Hesse pte fixe 118-168.GIF
.---115: silver-plated, screw-on fluted point (nickel silver).
Hesse 115 RBA feutre.JPG
---117: gold-plated, screw-on fluted point (brass or tombac).
Hes117.JPG
---TB18: gold-plated, screw-on fluted point, but with its bell-shaped cap
Hesse M95 TB18.JPG
Hess TB18 Pte or avec cloche.jpg
.---DR23 and 24: silver-plated, screw-on fluted point, but with its bell-shaped cap.
DR 24 Hesse PHcom.jpgDR 24 Hesse PHcom22.jpg
And finally, model 15 for everyone (except Leib-Garde-Regiment 115)
15.Hesse.jpg
 
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poniatowski said:
Here's mine:
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Yes, for me, Train Bataillon without a doubt. Indeed, the chimney cap is not specific to the Hessians but standard for the Prussians, and in this case, the bell-shaped tip is absolutely necessary. This lid would also be suitable for a FAR61 officer for the Hessian ball.

1768639197481.png
The cover for the Hessian infantry spike is domed, with a flat surface at the top to receive the fluted point. Yours is flat and has several circular grooves.
 
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