Paper/Cardboard ersatz pickelhauben

[Andy be Prussian]

I am making this thread dedicated to my favorite ersatz pickelhauben. Some people refer to them as paper ersatz or even paper maché. Others call them cardboard. Whichever the name, they fascinate me as a substitute material for pickelhauben. Out of all the ersatz materials for them, I have the hardest time finding information on cardboard ersatz. I’ll will share and go into detail the ones in my collection and I welcome any input and information regarding them. Cheers!

 

[Lars13]

Very nice, very good condition too!

 

[Khukri]

A nice set!
On the material:
-I think the French nailed it: "Carton bouilli"...Described as: pressed into shape [in one piece] in boiling water; dried. [Not to be confused with "papier maché".] Covered with felt or waterproof canvas or -shell lacked. ...."Boiled cardboard...
-Jean-Louis Larcade is using this term in his book chapter on the Probe and Ersatz spiked helmet and in his article in the French "Uniformes" Magazine. He uses this term rather than "papier maché".
-The Germans would have called it "Presspappe".
e.g. Used for manufacturing suitcases. Toys etc...

 

[Andy be Prussian]

A nice set!
On the material:
-I think the French nailed it: "Carton bouilli"...Described as: pressed into shape [in one piece] in boiling water; dried. [Not to be confused with "papier maché".] Covered with felt or waterproof canvas or -shell lacked. ...."Boiled cardboard...
-Jean-Louis Larcade is using this term in his book chapter on the Probe and Ersatz spiked helmet and in his article in the French "Uniformes" Magazine. He uses this term rather than "papier maché".
-The Germans would have called it "Presspappe".
e.g. Used for manufacturing suitcases. Toys etc...

Thanks for sharing that info!

 

[Khukri]

Thanks for sharing that info!

My pleasure!

 

[Andy be Prussian]

We’ll start this thread by sharing one of my favorite haube’s in my collection. This particular one seems to have been standard made by an unknown company that utilized cardboard material. Both the cap and visors are made from the material.




The wappen has a unique look compared to others and I seem to only see them on these particular ersatz pickelhaube. Namely, they have a more stubby beak, a pronounced cheek, and distinctively designed feathers


The chinstrap is quite interesting. This one seems to be made from a thin, cardboard or paper material, with round cornered buckles. If this is original to the haube, it’s amazing it has survived this long.

The underside of the haube shows the liner, which instead of leather, is made of oilcloth. It has naturally curled over time and is somewhat delicate. Yet, it has still managed to retain its original drawstring.

Some up close shots of the ersatz material underneath the haube. These cardboard pickelhauben can be passed over by collectors as regular leather ones at first glance.


The black plate that goes underneath the pickelhaube was placed right underneath the base plate. This seems to be a common occurrence with these cardboard ones. At some point, someone moved it to its normal spot. A size tag of 59 was put on the black plate and seems to have been glued on with the cardboard pulp.

 

[Andy be Prussian]

What makes this a prized item for me is that this is regimentally marked in a white ink or paint. I’ve seen on another ersatz haube marked this way. This looks marked in an old English font. It’s to the 2nd battalion of the 75th Infantry Regiment. The name Beck is also made written here. The 75th was stationed in Bremen and along with Hamburg and Lübeck, were part of the the old Hanseatic League from Medieval era. They have their own distinctive state cockades, with Bremen having a white, red, white combo.

 

[b.loree]

Very interesting posts and photos of special hauben!

 

[Andy be Prussian]

This next variant is quite an interesting one. The entire pickelhaube is made in one piece like felt ones are, except of course in cardboard. A forum member name Kaiser has a thread about this exact same pickelhaube and here I can compare them both. This one too has the black counter disc fitted directly underneath the base plate, the wappen is attached to the haube with split brads rather than the usual loops seen on other EM wappens, and the end of the brass spine has the number 2 underneath the nut that fixes it to the rear visor




A tear just above one of the fasteners of the brass visor trim



The black support disc, again seen on other cardboard ersatz, is directly attached to the spike plate, rather than underneath the cap


The liner doesn’t have a size sticker on it unfortunately, lost to time most likely. The color is the same as Kaiser’s liner. It has a cardboard band that is stitched to the inside of the haube

 

[Andy be Prussian]

Some inside shots of the cardboard material and the split brads of the wappen



I’m not sure the significance of the number 2 here at the end of the brass spine, but again, these ersatz haubes have them. Notice the screw where the nut threads on protrudes out and could potentially be poking on the back of one’s head


Also worth noting, like Kaiser’s upon closer look, the tip of the break of the wappen flattens out to a pointed hook. On mine as well, the cross on top of the orb looks poorly defined. Perhaps the wappens on these were made in haste?

 

[kaiser]

Nice to see a second one like mine witch is very hard due to the meterial its made out off and even the details you mention on the haisty stamping of the helmetplate are similar . mine has also the croocked cross on the orb as well as no detail on the cross on top of the heads eagle
A member here on the forum has made a interesting post on the explanation of the nbrs you find on the helmetspine .
Correct me if i am wrong here to say that there are 3 sizes of spines witch are 1 ,2,3 marked and they represent the size of the helmet, so when they where factory assembled the workers knew what spine they needed on what helmet

Regards

Jonas

 

[Andy be Prussian]

Nice to see a second one like mine witch is very hard due to the meterial its made out off and even the details you mention on the haisty stamping of the helmetplate are similar . mine has also the croocked cross on the orb as well as no detail on the cross on top of the heads eagle
A member here on the forum has made a interesting post on the explanation of the nbrs you find on the helmetspine .
Correct me if i am wrong here to say that there are 3 sizes of spines witch are 1 ,2,3 marked and they represent the size of the helmet, so when they where factory assembled the workers knew what spine they needed on what helmet

Regards

Jonas

I think that numbering system makes sense. The Gummimaske had a similar numbering system for sizes if I’m not mistaken

 

[Oldenburg]

Many thanks for this highly interesting and informative article

Best regards
Frank

 

[Rkinkade]

Thank you for the great photos. Ersatz are my favorites. One of these days I am going to sit down and try to make note of all the variants I am aware of.

 

[Andy be Prussian]

Thank you for the great photos. Ersatz are my favorites. One of these days I am going to sit down and try to make note of all the variants I am aware of

They are certainly mine too and that’s what I try to mainly collect. Look up on web Kaiser’s bunker. They have a fantastic list and break down of several ersatz variants. I also recommend getting some good books on the subject. I don’t have this, but I heard that Eric Johansson’s book is a good one. I personally use Feldzug’s volumes 1 & 2 ( 1914 & 1915) as a great go to for ersatz

 

[2nd.Leibhusar]

Those books from Johan are also perfect.
Volume 7 & 8 are full of these helmets..

 

[Andy be Prussian]

Those books from Johan are also perfect.
Volume 7 & 8 are full of these helmets..

Funny enough, I think one of my own ersatz ones is in those books

 

[Andy be Prussian]

This next example here is quite a Frankenstein’s monster. This M15 has skull cap made from card board, visors seem to be made of leather, although the front is much more harder and sturdier than the rear and I wonder if it’s potentially made of vulken fiber


Notice the cracking in the shellac of the skull cap. This really looks like a regular leather haube on the outside


The metal fittings are a much better quality than your typical M15 furniture. When I tested, they are confirmed to be magnetic.


Both cockades have been repainted, albeit a very long time ago

 

[Andy be Prussian]

A look at the underside. There are quite a few markings inside as the next photos will show


A shot of the cardboard paste

Size marking 57

A shot of the makers marking. Date 1915, but hard to distinguish who the marker is

Reserve Bekleidungsamt 18, which this one is stamped with arabic numerals, and which included the Hessen regiments

I believe I can make the name out as Yahinger

 

[CLOVIS 57]

Hello,
I also have a preference for Ersatz, whatever they may be.
As far as the so-called pressed cardboard or papier-mâché helmets are concerned, you should know that in fact the principle of manufacture is identical with Vulkanfiber, Bakelite, Isorel, Melamine, etc....
In fact, it's a “composite” material, i.e. combining at least 2 components.
-1- The framework can be made from horticultural fibres, hemp, flax, cellulose, wood shavings or sawdust, etc...
-2- The binder can be natural glue, latex, resin etc...
The 2 components are mixed together, then pressed into a mould and heated. The binder agglomerates and hardens, then the mould is demoulded.
In the case of spiked helmets :
---When it comes to Vulkanfiber, the ‘sheet’ is thin (1.5mm) and very hard. (like plastic).
---When using pressed cardboard, the ‘sheet’ is thicker (3-4mm) and less hard. (like leather).
I'll take photos as soon as possible. I have at least one pressed cardboard helmet, and at least one Vulkanfiber helmet.

After 1950, fibreglass and synthetic ‘polymer’ resin replaced these ‘natural’ materials.
After 2000, carbon fibre took over, becoming ever more resistant.