Opinions on this Prussian Helmet on the bay

[zook]

Hi folks -
Here is a new listing that I, the novice, am intrigued about.
Forum veterans have done an outstanding job to date either properly "humbling me" or setting me straight on infallables with ebay sellers or current listings, so I hope you won't let me down on this one!

Despite the liner damage and apparently lack of marks, I like the helmet.
I have asked the seller for a photo of the back of the wappen. I do not know what he has the reserve set at, when he mentions "relatively high"

Anyway, would appreciate and look forward to anyone's comments..here is the item:
Prussian Line Infantry Officer’s Pickelhaube w/Case
Seller: davidb59
Item number: 260001081240
http://cgi.ebay.com/Prussian-Line-Infantry-Officer-s-Pickelhaube-w-Case_W0QQitemZ260001081240QQihZ016QQcategoryZ13965QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[joerookery]

Zooker,

Here are a couple pics of rosette mountings with chinscales on an officer helmet. Compare it with the example.

The issue is assembly order. Cockade/chinscale/rosette. vs chinscale/cockade/rosette. Does this matter? You can put it back in order but it does indicate is has been changed and leads to questions about interior of the helmet. More pictures of the interior would be good. Stu had a "basic question" recently about bending rosettes. I remember his flame thrower comment fondly.
http://pickelhaubes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1451&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Also there is an entire thread on "Officer helmet liners" I'm not so sure how easily it is fixed again R1 or Brian might comment.
http://pickelhaubes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1333

 

[zook]

Thanks Joe! ...
Wappen not removed, but it is apparently attached via prongs. Email comments from seller as follows:

"I'm REALLY not eager to remove the Wappen--as you know, it's mounted using metal prongs, and to remove I'd have to bend the clips to remove it, potentially breaking the prongs. This helmet is almost 100 years old and I've never tampered with it since I bought it through Manion's International Auction House, Inc. in the late 1990s"

From my medal collecting background ...I am not a big fan of Manions.
I am not sure what their reputation is wrt haubes.
Dan