May 2007 Tradition

joerookery

joerookery

Well-known member
In the latest copy of Die Tradition Kube included a most wonderful catalog. It is truly amazing. The first 16 pages of a 1908 catalog. While this is clearly the first installment and the catalog runs over 80 pages, it is not clear how much of the catalog will eventually be rationed out.

This is similar to the Neumann catalog in some respects but the initial blast is a catalog selling -- enlisted helmets and parts -- not one-year volunteer. So here is a source in incredible detail for the selling of OR helmets and all sorts of parts. The table of contents includes officer items but it is not in this installment. The catalog comes from someone on our maker's mark list.
Wunderlich.jpg


I have much more to do on this -- seems you could buy individual items as well as bulk.
 
Now I have done a couple of articles I've finally taken a look at this. Pretty impressive. It does not say so directly but you get the direct impression that these guys sold large quantities to regiments or to the Bekleidungsamt. Helmets came in three varieties:

1. Diensthelmes
2. Extra light Diensthelme with a leather liner.
3. Private purchase helmet in Officer quality.

All of the helmets came with Chin scales and two OR cockades.

In addition to buying new there were all sorts of capabilities to buy repair parts or to have helmets "re done". There was a great deal of information put out about changing helmets from the "old-style" to either M91 or M95 variety. I actually had to use in 1903 dictionary for some of the words.

Most helmet Wappen and metal parts were available in both brass and Tombac -- both.

They differentiated between differing cockades and interestingly charge more for certain types -- as in contingents. They sold many cockades in lots of 100.

They also offered to items for storing helmets in the Kammer. Wrapping and stuffing. This is incredibly detailed.
 
Hi Joe

Very interesting study. It would explain the lot of different types of helmets, close to regular helmets but with extra parts we can still see.

You said "They sold many cockades in lots of 100". Are they still selling these cockades??????????

Anyway, thank you for the time you took to do this study.

Best regards

Eric
 
:D
Are they still selling these cockades??????????
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Wouldn't that be nice! They do not sell officer cockards!?!? They sell OR cockards and what they call Feldwebel cockards. They do not list the size of the cockards and the picture while looks like a single ring, could also be paint -- not a convincing picture either way. There are Feldwebel cockards for Prussia, Anhalt, Wurrtemberg specifically and then they sell them for all other contingents as a group.

The cost of a cockard for Bavaria, Hamburg, and Lübeck are 9 pf apiece while the Wurrtemberg one is only 4. And a Prussian 3 1/2.

This is a first catalog I have seen that gives specifically different Uberzug's for older and newer helmets. This catalog specifically deals a lot with older style helmet conversions and repairs. Fascinating stuff for me anyway!
 
Does this stir the NCO cockade debate?
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No I don't think so. I really think the only issue on the NCO cockade issue is the type of rings. This really does nothing to clarify that at all. They call them Feldwebel cockades -- but no measurements are given at all. No description of rings -- picture inconclusive.
 
where in Pre WW1 imperial Army does the rank Feldwebel fall? is that similar to Senior Corpral? as thier would bea SEAGENT at that point .
Just trying to figure where they drew the line for Junior and Senior NCO"S .
the Catalouge sounds great . and would answer alot of questions on helmet construction. Do you think cost of State color would be reason for price? As some schems or paints are harder to apply do to pigment's ?
mark
 
where in Pre WW1 imperial Army does the rank Feldwebel fall?
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This is certainly a senior noncommissioned officer. The Germans split the rank structure based on whether you could use a portepee or not. There were three ranks of Unteroffiziere with portepee: Feldwebel, Vizefeldwebel, and Fähnrich. There are a bunch of variations on a theme as you deal with other branches but this construct is relatively standard.

Do you think cost of State color would be reason for price?
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it had to be a labor thing. Two color cockades were cheaper than three color cockades but nowhere near nine pf.
 
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