James' Tschapka Before and After Restoration

b.loree

b.loree

Administrator
Staff member
The story continues...James sent me this piece in the summer. I had never restitched a tschapka visor before and they are truly unique. Tony said ...use a curved needle. Ok yea thats cool but what do you do when you can't see the stitch holes? Here are the pictures:
IMG_0460-1.jpg
The old thread has been cleaned out of the holes in the shell
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The tin top which was fastened to the leather shell.
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A rear view of the visor:
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The visor itself, is of two piece construction.....I had no knowledge of this, a thin piece glued to a thicker one.
Visor front"
IMG_0458-1.jpg

The visor has been stitched back on to the shell:
IMG_0633.jpg


Note that the visor trim no longer fits the leather visor once that it has been restitched. In some cases, the leather visor shrinks over time. This is the most nerve wracking thing for a restorer to do.....snug up the visor trim, mark it, cut it and drill a new hole for the split brad. You only get one shot and if you screw up, there is no going back. I did it and things worked out fine, but I did not take a final picture. Perhaps James can provide us with a picture of how the helme looks now. Regards to all, Brian
 
So It was stitched to the shell, then flipped over; trim attached and then the split brads placed:-? :-?.

Amazing job !

James: please show us the result ! This year ! Don't you dare to wait untill 2011....

Rgds,

Francis
 
Yes Francis, that is exactly how they were done originally. However, in this cae I obviously could not bend the visor back up to the vertical position in order to restitch. Note as well, the distance between stitches which is unique to the tschapka. The restitch had to be done blind so to speak, with a curved needle.
 
It is a shame it was sent to Minnesota, where it will probably succumb to snow rot due to the cold. I think it would be better in Idaho.
Best
Gus
 
Yes Maxime, the tschapka is very unique in its construction. The liner is of course totally different than the average haube with the squared fingers with metal eylets, and the thin strips of bamboo or cane put inside the edge of the liner where it is stitched to the edge of the shell. This model shown here...a tin top riveted to a leather shell with brass fittings. All very interesting and rather complex to make. The way that the liner is stitched to the shell made the visor restitch tougher because you can not pull the liner all the way out like you would on a normal haube.
Humm Gus you have got to stop lusting after James' stuff! Happy New Year to All!!
 
b.loree said:
Yes Maxime, the tschapka is very unique in its construction. The liner is of course totally different than the average haube with the squared fingers with metal eylets, and the thin strips of bamboo or cane put inside the edge of the liner where it is stitched to the edge of the shell.
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Yes, Brian, I know how a Tschapka is a complex construction! Yes, all prussian OR's mod 1867 to 1894/99 Tschapkas have a piece of bamboo or cane stitched inside the edge of the liner, for the 1915 model, it seems to be a little cord.

Maxime
 
Thank you Maxime, I did not know about the cord being used on the M15 instead of cane, which makes sense. I really think that it was cane as it seems to be the same as was used for woven cane of chairs from that era and later. I believe, that they also used very thin strips of cane for the officer liners. Anyone out there know where "cane" comes from...is it strips from sugar cane? Or is it just thin bamboo??
 
Hey Brian,
Cane is made from a rush, rattan, and most comes from Indoneasia.
Best
Gus
 
b.loree said:
// // I believe, that they also used very thin strips of cane for the officer liners. Anyone out there know where "cane" comes from...is it strips from sugar cane? Or is it just thin bamboo??
Click to expand...

Its not cane Brian, its a strip of reed. Similar to the larger type they use in the mouthpiece of certain woodwind instruments.
 
Hope this doesn't mess up the thread, but is rattan the material used in the hoops and staves of an enlisted hussar busby?
 
That's one heck of a nice job there! Having worked leather and such, that looks like one tough job. Congrats on your skills!

:D Ron
 
According to J-L Larcade volume II: Willow twigs.
I won't post the translation in this thread.
Unless I'm forced to :D

Khukri
 
Great questions guy's, I love to learn.

Sorry for the late pictures, here is the after shots. The Tschapka came with a broken front plate, so I am looking to replace that. The chinstrap and Kokarden came with it when I purchased the helmet, not sure if they are original to the helmet or not.

Helmet has a small date stamp on the inside of 1914, and the other stamp as photoed.

James

1914tschapka001.jpg


1914tschapka009.jpg


1914tschapka008.jpg


1914tschapka007.jpg


1914tschapka006.jpg


1914tschapka005.jpg


1914tschapka004.jpg


1914tschapka003.jpg
 
pointystuff said:
Are the rivets more or less tiny tubes with the ends spread out on the inside of the mortarboard?
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They feel and look like actual rivits, with smooth end on both sides? no end to spread out?

James
 
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