Learning lesson 1

W

westr70

New member
Hi,

I'm endeavoring to find my way through the pit falls of buying Pickelhaubes and parts. I looked at Colonel J article on plates and compared it to the below ebay item.

This is may analysis:
1. the front of the plate is not as detailed as the ones I've seen in the books (e.g., Trawnik 2005:206);
2. the rear has nice solder marks but the rear plate seems to lack detail.
3. I can't tell if it is cast or stamped.

So either its a fake or there is more variation than I've seen in my very limited experience. Any comments would be welcome. I should add that I'm not interested in buying it.


http://cgi.ebay.com/WW1ORIGINAL-GERMAN-PICKELHAUBE-HELMET-PLATE-BAVARIA-/170605361977?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27b8df3b39
 
Look at the lettering. It's rather 'soft', not at all crisply stamped. Looks like a casting to me... I'd personally stay away from this one.

:D Ron
 
1. the front of the plate is not as detailed as the ones I've seen in the books (e.g., Trawnik 2005:206);
2. the rear has nice solder marks but the rear plate seems to lack detail.
Click to expand...

John,

Seems like you have answered your own question! Those are exactly the things you should be looking for.
 
The one photo of the back shows little detail, and the front lacks the detail that one would expect to see. I have not seen a Wappen like this before, but even if I had, I would questin if it was real due to the lack of depth to the stamping, if you compair it to the steel Wappen shown in the auction, you can see how deep the detail is pressed into the steel, brass is easier to stamp, and to see less depth woudl cause me to keep my hands out of my pocket. (or if it was a live aution, I would leave my hands in my pocket:)
Best
gus
 
And speaking of new-made copies:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Brunswick-Pickelhaube-Helmet-Plate-/290540246885?pt=UK_Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item43a58c5765
 
I agree, the lack of detail on the front side of this wappen is definitely worrying. Its even more evident after comparing it to a similar wappen on mine bavarian haube. Even if it was a dug up relic or something like that, I would have expected more corrosion etc. Hence, don't buy this one.

Best regards,

Edwin
 
John,

Do not think you are alone in trying to determine these problems. Sometimes, your eyes see what they want to see not reality. My own story goes back to SOS several years ago. I saw this JR 94 officers helmet that was absolutely perfect in my eyes. I hungered for it. I was an experienced collector and had looked it over pretty well. This was great! It would be mine!

Tony Cowan leaned over and told me to take off the front plate–same advice I had given numerous times. But how dare he tell me that! I was experienced and this helmet was perfect. Now trying to be my friend he was slowing down my rush to purchase this. Just to humor him I took off the plate and oh my goodness–it was a very poor copy. You could not tell from the front but the back was so obvious it was embarrassing. Tony Cowan saved me thousands of dollars. It is what friends are for at these shows. James buys a lot of helmets and he has often sent me pictures just to double check that his eyeballs are not seeing sugarplums. I would say that lesson number two is get a second set of eyes.

Lesson number three might be buy the good stuff. There are many collectors here who have top notch collections. Somehow, I do not think they got everything without a few bumps. I think you hear–buy quality not quantity. Good to see you asking questions before you buy!
 
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