M15 Artillery.

Wylie Coyote,

I recently bought an M1915 helmet with a hole cut out of the spike base, so that the plate is completely flush with the top surface of the hemet. Don't know if this M1915 helmet is one of those that you're supposing didn't have a spike base. Could never figure out why the metal piece was cut like this, in a completely professional way. I would post a close-up foto of it, but I still haven't figured out how to post images. But I had sent a foto to Gus, so if he reads this and is so inclined, perhaps he can post the foto of the "flat-top" helmet.

Regards

[/img]
 
Joe

No problem about blowing up the photo at all! The fella on the left in blow-up one, looks like he also has an empty spike cover hanging over to his left, almost in line with the bottem of the bayonet. And you are definitely right about the guy in the third pic, the spike cover looks like a wind sock on top of his helmet. I always assumed it was some ones head in the background, but looking at my pc I see you are correct.

Geo
 
Hi fg42 and all,
Things have been busy on the farm ans I just got to this thread, I can not find the email from fg42 with the image, but I do have it on my other computer (my IPS does not deliver all my mail to this computer, I do not know why, the first time fg42 sent it to me, it was held until I logged on with my steam powered machine, and it can not be because the communications started with that one because I had not used the old computer during the time I had communicated with fg42) The photo shows clearly (to me anyway) that the spike base on fg42's helmet is a normal base that has had the center broken out die to metal fatague, there is no paint on the inner part of the hole. I will post the photo as soon as I can get a bit of free time (we are dealing with a few problems on the ranch this week)
Best wishes
Gus
 
Here's a close-up of the spike base on an M1915 I recently bought. The hole is extremely neatly cut out. Looks factory-made. Maybe it was made that way, without ever having the mount for the spike. There's just no evidence of the kind of bending or twisting that might lead up to metal fatigue, as Gus suggested. Anyone out there know why this kind of spike base was used?

 
FG42 no idea but I just cannot think that anyone would walk around in the rain with a hole in the top of their helmet. Purpose???? Beats me! Look at this one.
e36.jpg

e37.jpg


I have no idea either.
 
There are a couple of markings on the inside of the helmet. I'm too new at this hobby/obsession to know what the 25R stands for. Is that some kind of unit marking? Anyway, judging from the condition of the liner and the exterior leather, it looks barely worn.

 
Hi All,
I can not see any evidence of paint on the inside of the hole on this helmet, and I will stand by my first impression until a logical reason can be put foreward. The reasons I am being so pig headed on this one is that the questionable spike base is on a standard M1915 body, it is the same shape and design as the standard base, there is no sign of paint on the edge of the hole, this is the only one any one has seen (to my knowledge) but most important, the process of die stamping is exactly the same process that is used to cut this sort of hole, the only differance is the clearance between the dies. My suggestion is that when this base was stamped, it was stamped with dies that were did not have correct clearance to produce the correct radius to the bend, these parts were painted after they were formed, so if the cut edge has no paint, it could not have been produced in the way it is now. I have seen stamped parts fail this way on machinery, and the resulting break is as clean as a die cut, but there will be christaline structure to the metal visable at the edge, where a die cut will be finished surface. If this base had been intentionally made flat, why did they bother to cut a hole in it.
I will be happy to change my mind if a reasonable reason can be suggested. Perhaps it is like the helmet that had the tip of the spike cut off for use on Zepplins?
Best wishes
Gus
 
I'm too new at this hobby/obsession to know what the 25R stands for. Is that some kind of unit marking?
Click to expand...
Woah!!!! You have some very nice marks on this hemet. The 25R is the regiment of issue. The round mark on the right is the helmet maker. These are both clear and desireable. I have an article on the regimental or "depot marks" at:
http://www.pickelhauben.net/articles/DepotMarks.htm
Also our listing of makers mark pictures is at:
http://www.pickelhauben.net/articles/Helmet_Makers.htm

You might find yours there ---- nice marks!
 
FG there is a IR25 picture on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6276852121&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1
 
I have another example of spikeless troops. This one is dated 17 Jan. 1917. The cancellation is pretty well faded, I can make out ...en Depot (Rekrueten Depot?) Not sure what you all think, could be recruits with their D.I.'s. All their gear appears to be identical, (you don't see that very often in group pics of the period), even down to the same ersatz bayonets w/ unfullered blades on their rifles. First time I recall noticing any troop actually wearing the chins straps. Unlike the pics of the POW guards, you can clearly see the spike base sticking up from the covers.
The two reclining soldiers have "19" on the shoulder straps. They have vertical color devices, does anyone know what they are? Looks like the photographer caught them during a break period, a couple are holding canteens, the soldier on the bottem far left is holding bread or a sandwich.
So at least troops had the spike off as late as 1917.

Geo

 
joerookery said:
George did you notice the guy with the white umpire armband?
Click to expand...

Isn't that fellow a little low on the totem pole to be an umpire Joe? He is just a rifleman. Could be a medic armband, but that would be very odd, as medics in Companies wore the specialist sleeve patch only. Not sure what that is?
 
Could it be a temporary field promotion, ie squad leader, the visible arm band would indicate that he would have some kind of recognition, and he is possitioned to the front of the photo .
Gus
 
This is the second Pickelhaube I ever bought (second in the same day too). I sold the first one many years ago, but kept this one and still have it.

Notice that the spike color is different from the base slightly. Now I would have thought the spike could have been a "recent" replacement, but it came with the cap when I bought it. They're both small, and I believe from the same soldier, or at least same unit. I bought these summer of 1984 at the Great Lakes Militaria Show in Toledo, Ohio. The price for both was $100 from a man who said these belonged to his father. The man selling them was pretty old (but when you're 16 anyone over 40 seemed ancient).

german_m15_big1.jpg


cap_big.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top