Kit helmet liner?

joerookery

joerookery

Well-known member
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-German-helmet-WWI-ww1-original-hat-with-spike_W0QQitemZ180281871071

Is that not the same kind of liner used in a kit helmet? Not very common is it?
 
gregM said:
Ok, newbie question time.
What is a kit helmet?
Click to expand...

Greg, it is the Eisenblech Ersatz-Helme that closely resemble the M1895 Pickelhaube as they consist of a black lacquered helmet shell with seperate front and rear visor secured by spilt brads. At first glance, it appears that regular M1895 fittings are mated to a tin shell, but Eisenblech Pickelhaube have several very unique features. The brads for holding on the spike base are artificial and are actually pressed into the spike base, while the spike itself is pressed onto the helmet skull. The rear spine stops short of the spike base and is void of the M1895 sliding vent. Joe wrote a very nice article about it HERE.

fgh05.jpg
 
Thanks Tony,
Very interesting thread and great article by Joe.
Some Imperial bean counter was looking for the quicker
easier way to produce Pickelhaube.
 
gregM said:
Thanks Tony,
Very interesting thread and great article by Joe.
Some Imperial bean counter was looking for the quicker
easier way to produce Pickelhaube.
Click to expand...
Hey Greg,
It was not so much the bean counter that brought about the kit helmets or the other Ersatz Helm. There was a great need for the leather Pickelhauben, but the process was very slow to make the leather bodies, so they used many different types of substitute materials, including, cork, felt, paper and tin (tin is not what was used, but in the North American conteninent, thin sheet metal is often coated with tin or zinc, and so we often call very thin sheet metal "tin", added for those readers in Europe who may have been wondering). So rather than being a money saving measuer, it was a time saver.
Bes twihses
Gus
 
That is a excellant point Gus, and always seems to take a back seat to the shortage of leather due to Naval Blockade from His Majesty's Navy. Thanks for bringing that point to light!

Geo
 
Hey George,
I think it was Joe who brought that up first, but think about it, how could the problem have been a shortage of leather in 1914, when the M1915 was made of leather? they had finally gotten the production geared up.
Best wishes
Gus
 
Hello,

Sorry, but why do you think, it could be a liner for a kit helmet ?

I only see a common Mle 15 helmet's liner...



\:D/
 
You may well be right. I was just looking at the very back it is pretty chewed up though. I thought if it was from a kit helmet it would be pretty unusual. 8-) 8-) 8-)
 
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