M16 Bing Helmet

[Stahlhelm]

M16 G.B.N. 64 Gebrüder Bing Stahlhelm. Often referred to as the Duck Bill M16 by collectors and dealers of yore. Clear traces of where a brow plate once sat affixed for a period of time are evident.




Direct Sunlight for contrast:

 

[Stahlhelm]

Continued....

This helmet has a few very interesting features. The underside visor and neck guard show a black undercoat (probably not the right term) in chipped areas that I have never seen on a WW1 German Stahlhelm (with 1 other exception). The leather used for the liner pads is unusually thick and is a distinctly darker brown type, often seen in Bing steel helmets with M16 liner systems.

In my opinion, the two features in particular that lead me to think that this is a very early Bing production helmet is the high gloss paint and the single thick M16 leather liner band. Later Bing helmets tend to have a very matte paint, and almost all Bing steel helmets I've encountered either had the later 2 ply M16 liner bands or the M17 steel bands. Also note the low heat lot # of Bi 71.

All of the ironworks and factories manufacturing the Stahlhelm during WW1 did so under license and supervision of the Thale Ironworks (Eisenhüttenwerk Thale), who owned the rights to the Stahlhelm. Bing had a well established history of manufacturing in metal, and the interesting differences between this Bing helmet and Thale helmets -especially the paint application - makes me wonder if Bing attempted to do it their own way at the start before conforming to the processes set by Thale.

Further insights and opinions welcome.

Hans



"Landsturm" is legible

 

[Stahlhelm]

For comparison purposes, here is another G.B.N. 64 helmet (C. Roelens) with the same heat lot Bi 71 which shares the same features as mine: high gloss Feldgrau paint, black undercoat to the underside of the visor/neck guard and thick leather liner pads.

 

[Doug B]

Hey Hans, I believe you are 100% correct with the theory. I’ve not heard or seen anything else that might contradict that.

You should try to acquire the 2nd one you posted to see them side by side. It would make a very nice display as well!

Fantastic helmet by the way, love it!

 

[Stahlhelm]

Thank you Doug. I will see if I can make that happen.

 

[John Josef]

Hi Hans,

Beautiful helmet it certainly sounds like a sound theory and also very Bavarian. (typisch Bayern)

Especially from those times the Bavarians didn't like the Prussians very much and always wanted to show their independence for as long as possible and were usually the last to implement any of the Military regulations. To be honest it went both ways.

Bavarians are very independent especially when it comes to dealing with Prussians or anyone north of the Bavarian border. There are a few derogatory terms still in use even today.

I remember years ago sitting at the Wiesn and seeing a t shirt that said a "Prussian in Lederhosen is still a Prussian".

 

[Stahlhelm]

Thank you John Josef, and yes, even though I was born and raised in Canada, I am very familiar with all things Boarisch and have always considered Munich my second home. This Bavarian perspective was in the forefront of my mind as I pondered the helmet.

 

[Khukri]

Hi Hans,

Beautiful helmet it certainly sounds like a sound theory and also very Bavarian. (typisch Bayern)

Especially from those times the Bavarians didn't like the Prussians very much and always wanted to show their independence for as long as possible and were usually the last to implement any of the Military regulations. To be honest it went both ways.

Bavarians are very independent especially when it comes to dealing with Prussians or anyone north of the Bavarian border. There are a few derogatory terms still in use even today.

I remember years ago sitting at the Wiesn and seeing a t shirt that said a "Prussian in Lederhosen is still a Prussian".

Translation: "Either a nutcase or a Prussian"...