Pickelhaube found (cleaning question)

G

graycivic

New member
Hi Everyone. First post. Just found this helmet in my grandfathers attic. I'm trying to restore it as best I can considering it has probably been up there for 50 or 60 years. I'm afraid to take off the front plate since I'm not exactly sure how to take it off. I dont see any bolts on it. My main question is about the front plate and the rest of the metal parts. How can I tell if it is gilded or not? It is very dirty and I have cleaned them with water and a little soap but it hasn't cleaned it much. I tested most of the metal with magnets and none of it seems to be other than the base of the spike. So basically any help you can give me on the metal parts would be great. Thanks

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I would not touch a thing, it looks great the way it is!!! patina takes years to get this way.

Nice enlisted man's helmet or as we call it OR (other ranks) The metal parts on this helmet never had the frost or gilt that an officer would.

Would love to see a shot fo the inside and liner, any markings.

The frontplate should be held on with 2 leather tabs on the inside that go through to metal loops that are attached to the back of the plate. If they are there, I would not remove unless they are loose, as many of these break very easy due to the age of the leather.

This looks like a very, very nice helmet for the state of Baden. Again, would like to see the inside, and if it is as nice as the outside you have a nice helmet.

All the best

James
 
Very nice Baden Model 1895 Enlisted Man/OR Pickelhaube.
As far as I can see, it is missing the Baden State cockade.
Like James said, I would leave it as is.
 
Thanks everyone for their input. Can anyone tell me if it's a 1895 or an 1897? I thought the white and orange on the side made it an 1897? Also what does baden mean? I had read that the baden is the type of front plate and that it has something to do with the rank of the person.

I have included a picture of the interior. It is actually in better condition than the exterior. There is just some wear along the edges but thats really it. The interior lining is in great shape. The front has jr 137 which i read was a regiment stamp meaning its from the 137th infantry regiment. I also noticed today when taking the interior picture that it also has a date stamp on it. it is very faded and I cant get it to show on a picture but it says 1913 so I would assume that would be the production date? So any other info you guys can tell me would be great. I'm trying to get as much info as possible so I can include it with the Pickelhaube when I put it on display in my house.

Next up after this helmet is the US WWI that was also in the attic that was my great great uncles. I know he got the pickelhaube while he was over there but nobody seems to know if it was given to him or if he found it.

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Great Haube. Great patina.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Duchy_of_Baden" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The wappen (helmet frontplate) shows the Baden (Grand Duchy's) griffin (Greif in German), half eagle-half lion.
Markings:
But: I think the IR 137 was not a Baden Regiment but the 2.Unter-Elsässisches Infanterie Regiment Nr 137 of Hagenau.
...
Rgds,
Francis
 
First, Welcome! Second, NICE!!! That's a great find, more rare than the Prussian variety and in wonderful condition. I'm with the rest, don't touch a thing, leave the patina the way it is.
The German states had different front plates (wappen). For example, the Griffin that you have is Baden (not related to rank, but to location), Prussia had different eagles, guard stars, etc. Saxony, a starburst type front plate with their crest in the center, etc. It's all fascinating to learn and a lot of fun. There's a lot of information on this site, so browse around and take a look. You can get an idea by looking at Adler's collection, "Tony Without Kaiser"s web site, 'Scroll Helmet' articles and the "Latest Find" threads to name just a few.
If you're looking for honest and expert advise, the people who can help are here. There are a lot of 'experts' out in the world who aren't anything near what these guys are! (I'm a novice compared to many of my fellow Pickelhaub.com'ians!) I think the only thing people are reluctant to do here is appraise value, because you can get a good idea from online auctions and we're collectors... we'd rather purchase / haggle from a seller's asking price... if that was even in your mind (and with heirlooms like this, I'd think it wasn't!).
So again, welcome to the forum!

:D Ron
 
As to how your uncle came upon the helmet, there was a constant trade market between soldiers for these. Also, if he did occupation duty, a half of a loaf of bread was more than enough for a helmet from a local family. Chances are he traded for it or purchased it... unless some German left one behind someplace, because they weren't used for combat when the US arrived.

:D Ron
 
I am with everyone on this, great patina and in my opinion great condition! I wouldn't do anything to it but give it a little bit of a dusting.
 
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