As I have mentioned previously, one of the very cool things about restoration is that for some reason, people send me their helmets to work on. As such, unlike most of you, I get to work on some pretty rare and expensive leather hats. I take them apart and that can be pretty scary at times because I can't screw up, they don't belong to me. Before I go on with JR 119 and 126., I would like to assure the owners of the "Huge Melon" and "Wurtt Dragoner" helmets that I am still adding finish to their pieces but this process takes some time, especially in the summer where humidity interferes. The best time to lay on finish is in winter when things are "dry". In summer conditions, I am waiting a week between "coats" and there can be 20+ applications before I get things right. So I am still working on them and I very much appreciate the patience of their owners. 
These two "old soldiers" from 119 and 126 were sent up to me from NYC recently for some restitch. Both are M95 Wurttemberg helmets and are well marked to their regiments. Surprisingly, as we shall see, they correspond to two Wurtt members from my collection. I have 3 Wurtt helmets in the collection a 119, a 126 and an M15. This is quite a coincidence as far as I am concerned and will form part of this post.
So, the JR 119 only needed the rear visor stitched while both visors had to be done on the 126, I began with it. The 126 has suffered more abuse than it's brother and is a smaller helmet. Both helmets are well marked as we shall see:...JR 119 dated 1905 and 126..1913. To my mind, German helmets produced before the war, were well marked as part of the Imperial procurement process BUT things changed once war had been declared AND once the High Command realised that helmet markings could provide intelligence to the enemy. So let's have a look at the JR119:
A frontal view of JR 119, note the wide visor trim, spike etc is missing because I tell customers, I do not need them for a restitch. The wappen is loop backed. Note the crowns and stag antlers are not voided plus the fine stitching on the visor.
The rear visor is pined for restitch after all old thread has been cleaned out, the stitching is "finer", more stitches per "inch", and the visor seems longer than normal. I remember from back in my childhood,....finer stitching was a mark of quality on a leather product as it is today! Some things never change.....the softer the leather gloves or the leather jacket......+$$$$. All for now, more to come. B
These two "old soldiers" from 119 and 126 were sent up to me from NYC recently for some restitch. Both are M95 Wurttemberg helmets and are well marked to their regiments. Surprisingly, as we shall see, they correspond to two Wurtt members from my collection. I have 3 Wurtt helmets in the collection a 119, a 126 and an M15. This is quite a coincidence as far as I am concerned and will form part of this post.
So, the JR 119 only needed the rear visor stitched while both visors had to be done on the 126, I began with it. The 126 has suffered more abuse than it's brother and is a smaller helmet. Both helmets are well marked as we shall see:...JR 119 dated 1905 and 126..1913. To my mind, German helmets produced before the war, were well marked as part of the Imperial procurement process BUT things changed once war had been declared AND once the High Command realised that helmet markings could provide intelligence to the enemy. So let's have a look at the JR119:
A frontal view of JR 119, note the wide visor trim, spike etc is missing because I tell customers, I do not need them for a restitch. The wappen is loop backed. Note the crowns and stag antlers are not voided plus the fine stitching on the visor.
The rear visor is pined for restitch after all old thread has been cleaned out, the stitching is "finer", more stitches per "inch", and the visor seems longer than normal. I remember from back in my childhood,....finer stitching was a mark of quality on a leather product as it is today! Some things never change.....the softer the leather gloves or the leather jacket......+$$$$. All for now, more to come. B
