M95 Grenadier helmet with handwritten regimental marking (?)

[RusCobs]

Dear fellow collectors.

I hope to get some opinions, experience, possiblities and expertise so I come to you.
I have this recently aquired M95 Grenadiers helmet which to me appears a textbook piece; all fittings seem original to the helmet, no extra holes, marks from the eagle in the leather shell, dust build up between these, all brass matching, overall nice patina, detachable srew spike (with more brass showing from unsrewing), original coackades and chinstrap...

The inner shell is stamped with a size (55) and circular (unreadable) maker mark.
The inside of the left rear visor is ‘1914’ stamped.
Above this ‘1914’ stamp is, what looks to me, a handwritten but hard to read regimental mark in pencil. The letters seem to be Sütterlin, with that in mind I think I see ‘L.G. 3.B.B’?
On the right side of the inside rear visor is a unreadable handwritten name in pencil with perhaps a Felpost number ‘41173’.
The same name and number are handwritten in pencil on the inside of the front visor.

My question to you is; what do you read in the handwritting, what could be options or possibilities for this helmet, or simply what is it exactly

Thanks in advance, and all my best from Holland,
Dorus

 

[RusCobs]

Some more...

 

[argonne]

Hi Dorus,

I love those clues, I am collecting this way too.

What I now see: I think the first word (front and back visor) is the name of wearer, it seems this is the same name on both visors but I am not able to identify it. It seems to begin with "Reinh..." or something like that. It would be great if you could make picts of this first word after you made it slightly wet.

The second word could be the abreviation "Vzfldw." for the rank Vizefeldwebel. Please confirm!

During 1914-18 there were no Feldpostnummer. I think the last marking could mean "11/173" (11. companie of JR173). In this case, why can we find a Grenadier plate on this helmet instead of a classic line eagle for the JR173? But there are known examples of helmets who changed units during the war and in the front lines area because lack of equipment. This could not be seen under the Überzug. This helmet really (still) is a clue...Please try to make better picts with wet markings! It could really help to decypher the name.

Philippe
:wink:

 

[RusCobs]

Thanks for your reply and opinion/ information Philippe!
Yes, you are right... The front and back visor bare the same name and number. I’ll make some pictures tomorrow with good natural light.

Cheers,
Dorus

 

[RusCobs]

I made some more pictures although it still stays very hard to read...

 

[RusCobs]

And some more of the ‘regimental’ writing...

 

[RusCobs]

Philippe; helmet indeed once wore a cover. The denting in the leather from the hooks is clearly visible on the inside rear visor...

 

[argonne]

Dorus,

Try to wet the markings a little and immediatly make picts. This allows sometimes a better decyphering!

Philippe
:wink:

 

[RusCobs]

Hi Philippe... I did try but in photo it didn’t make it clearer.
Will try again...

 

[RusCobs]

Ps. Can you make anything out concerning the regimental mark (L.G. 3.B.B)?

 

[RusCobs]

Could it be ‘L.G. 3.B.8’... Leib Grenadier 3 (König Friedrich Wilhelm III) Brandenburgishes (Nr.)8?

 

[argonne]

Could it be ‘L.G. 3.B.8’... Leib Grenadier 3 (König Friedrich Wilhelm III) Brandenburgishes (Nr.)8?

I am unable to confirm that... Your helmet ist 1914 dated. Maybe a late pattern of marking for this unit?

The only example that I know, from Joes markings list, also a late marking because 1915 dated, but it is clearly L.G.R.8.:

I may think that I see something like "3.B." in your marking (3. Bataillon)... :-k

Philippe
:wink:

 

[RusCobs]

Yes Philippe, that could be so... Although the marking is handwritten and not stamped.
Another option would be that it is an early marking, scratched and when resused in 1914 with the handwritten name and number on the other side are from the new wearer...