pointystuff
Active member
https://www.weitze.net/detail/32/Mexiko_Pickelhaube_fuer_Offiziere_der_Infanterie__173232.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
He's proud of that pointy hat.
He's proud of that pointy hat.
Mexican spiked helmet
- Thread starter pointystuff
- Start date
poniatowski
Well-known member
Gustaf said:
That's true! A very rare helmet, but part of the value is the history of the army with which an item is associated.
Ron
poniatowski said:Gustaf said:
That's true! A very rare helmet, but part of the value is the history of the army with which an item is associated.
That is true, Ron,
That is why this has great value for a collector in the US, Brunswick had negligible impact on the US, but the Mexican Army had a great impact, and Germany's attempt to influence Mexico during WWI was the catalyst that got the US into the war. The historical value of this helmet, if genuine, greatly exceeds any helmet with a Tottenkopf.
Best
Gsu
pointystuff
Active member
What gives me pause is my better half's reaction to my spending almost four grand on the skin of a long-dead cow and some bits of brass.
That's like four or more sets of tires or a vacation. :lol:
That's like four or more sets of tires or a vacation. :lol:
Three years ago, I bought 4 sets of tires, they are about gone now, but I needed them, so I could not trade them for a pointy thing.pointystuff said:
Three years ago, I also paid for a vacation to go to a friend's wedding in Germany, and that I would not trade for anything.
As we collect, we need to keep the family in perspective, they are the most important thing we have.
Best
Gus
Peter_Suciu
Well-known member
I've considered at times to get into those international Pickelhaubes - Sweden, Romania, Portugal, Mexico, the various South American ones - but then I see the prices and I'm just glad I steered clear. I'd be selling blood and other bloodily fluids to pay for these things! :-"
Maple Creek
Active member
The picture from Weitze's site has unfortunately aged out. Does anybody have a picture of the thing on file? Also, what was the price?
My father bought one of these from a flea market in Mexico in 1958 for $25. There were two and of course now he regrets not buying both. Back in 1958 $25 was a lot to spend on something as useless as an old helmet.
My only reference guide for this type is from Joe's website. My current understanding about the piece in my father's collection is that the silver trim indicates cavalry. The feather plume could possibly indicate general like a similar piece on Colonel J's (see http://www.pickelhauben.net/articles/latin_America.html).
One interesting thing about this piece is that the kokarden are the NCO type with Prussian color scheme. Another odd thing about it is the liner which is defective. Although these pieces were produced in Germany they wouldn't necessarily have had to follow German military uniform rules or standards, so there could be things about them that appear atypical.
My father bought one of these from a flea market in Mexico in 1958 for $25. There were two and of course now he regrets not buying both. Back in 1958 $25 was a lot to spend on something as useless as an old helmet.
My only reference guide for this type is from Joe's website. My current understanding about the piece in my father's collection is that the silver trim indicates cavalry. The feather plume could possibly indicate general like a similar piece on Colonel J's (see http://www.pickelhauben.net/articles/latin_America.html).
One interesting thing about this piece is that the kokarden are the NCO type with Prussian color scheme. Another odd thing about it is the liner which is defective. Although these pieces were produced in Germany they wouldn't necessarily have had to follow German military uniform rules or standards, so there could be things about them that appear atypical.
poniatowski
Well-known member
Gustaf said:poniatowski said:Gustaf said:
That's true! A very rare helmet, but part of the value is the history of the army with which an item is associated.
That is true, Ron,
That is why this has great value for a collector in the US, Brunswick had negligible impact on the US, but the Mexican Army had a great impact, and Germany's attempt to influence Mexico during WWI was the catalyst that got the US into the war. The historical value of this helmet, if genuine, greatly exceeds any helmet with a Tottenkopf.
Best
Gsu
Interesting.... yes, I never put much emphasis on the Mexican Campaign or border raids, since the US Army never actually fought the Mexican army. Also, with the renewal of unrestricted submarine warfare by the Germans, the arming of merchant vessels by the US and T.R.'s constant campaigning to get the State IN to the war, the Zimmerman letter seems to almost be a moot point... I mean, we were going to war, it was just a matter of time (I think the hype about the letter to the US citizens as a portent of an potential threat far exceeded what Mexico was actually capable of in battle, NOT that the US wanted to fight them for any reason). As far as the impact of fighting Germany goes and the campaigns 'over there', the cost of 53,000 dead and 340,000 total US casualties compared to 14 military and 20 civilian deaths against Pancho Villa, well, I guess I just never thought much about the impact of Mexico, other than serving as a tutorial to our military weaknesses in the year of 1916. After all, it was the US mobilization for the fight in Europe that brought the US into the global spotlight as a power, rather than a big place with a second (or third) rate military.
But, you're right, EVERY campaign has its historical significance.... and, they ARE pretty cool helmets!
Ron