M1915 Prussian Pickelhaube - Re-Stitching Needed

[RON]

Gentlemen,
For those of us who live very far (for now) and don't have easy/close access to Cameron Laughlin or similar for re-stitching, do you have any leads on how to re-stitch my wartime Prussian EM Pickelhaube?
The front visor is completely detached but still held by the side rivets. The original stitches are still there on the shell side but the visor has split from it over the years. It still displays OK when hidden by the chinstrap but I would love to try and restore this haube to some of its former glory (some advise on how to get its shell to shine would also be appreciated).

 

[RON]

Some close-up pictures in case anyone has tips to share... As you can see, the haube looks fine when mounted on a head display and the front visor junction is hidden by the chinstrap.

The front visor has broken at the stitching line with the thread and actual stitches still intact and the leather is quite stiff in that area...

Nice looking old jaw wouldn't you say?!

 

[Khukri]

Ron,
There is some work to do on this Pickelhaube; I'm sure you'll find help on this forum.
Regarding displaying:
Have a look at Tony's great website:
Here the link on Preservation/displaying etc...

http://www.kaisersbunker.com/preservation/index.htm

Styrofoam is poison to the Pickelhaubes leather !
Don't !

Rgds,

Francis

 

[RON]

I agree but this is styrofoam covered with some sort of skin-color velvet... Would this be OK?

 

[Khukri]

I'm afraid this thin layer is not blocking the chemicals !

Just go to www.kaisersbunker.com

Rdgs,

Francis

 

[Tony without Kaiser]

Ron, that cannot be restitched. The visor above where it was sewn to the shell is gone. You are going to have to accept it the way it is, or look for a replacement front visor. If you are going to leave it as is (I would) then drill two very small holes in the center straight through the top of the visor and into the shell. Then run a thin piece of wire through them to hold the visor in place. Hopefully the chinstrap hangs down enough to cover it.

 

[RON]

Here's my Pickelhaube again after a bit of TLC... Thank you Brian for that shoe polish tip; it really altered the looks on that helmet! Still need to fix that visor the way Tony advised or leave it as is since it's not showing underneath the chinstrap anyway and the side rivets are strong enough.
And no, I'm not leaving it on the head. It's only for the pictures.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

 

[b.loree]

Looks a heck of a lot better Ron after the polish. You could, with some effort and polish literally fill in most of those
blemishes if you want to. This old boot polish method will not work on large areas of missing finish but where the blemish is narrow or small the polish will hold to the helmet. I agree with Tony, now that I have seen close ups of your visor. It is toast unfortunately.

 

[poniatowski]

There is a thread about helmet display. Wig-heads are poison to leather, even with the flocking (as mentioned above) you're better off inverting a glass (tumbler, tasse, or whatnot) and displaying it on that instead.

Ron