ww1czechlegion
Well-known member
Here's a helmet my oldest friend picked up for me this past weekend. It turned out to not quite be what I expected. He couldn't read the markings when I was talking him through the helmet via phone, and I was hoping it might be F.A.R. or Fs. A. R. marked, but alas it is not.
Helmet is "B.A.X. 1915" Depot marked. And it is "173 R." and "1915" marked on the other side of the visor. I had to dampen the markings in order to photo them. It is also marked "Maury & Co., Mainz", and size "56". There is also a penciled name in forehead area, and a sewn in cloth label with the initials "J.P." inside liner.
Helmet was very dusty when acquired. I am guessing it came out of an attic recently, and it was found with two other M15 Prussian Infantry e.m. helmet in similar condition, all missing the chinstraps and kokardes on each helmet.
I am not sure why someone put an M95 Artillery Ball Top on this helmet. It looks like it has been on there literally "forever" since it came back to the U.S., but I can't prove that. The neck of the spike is cracked at a couple of the ventilator holes, and a piece of the brass is also chipped out and missing as seen in photos.
The ball top, base, and the 4-domed split brads are brass. So are the 2-split brads at either side of the front visor trim.
All other fittings on the helmet are steel, which include the side posts, front visor trim, back spine, Prussian front plate, and the two grommet rings for the front visor attachment.
The Prussian eagle front plate is missing one of the steel wire mounting loops on the back side of helmet. Two old match sticks hold the front plate firmly in place.
Size "56" marked inside in rear area as seen in photo.
"Maury & Co., Mainz" maker marked in forehead area. I was not able to get a full view photo of the mark due to light reflection.
Flaws with the helmet: Front visor trip is cracked on underside of visor, as seen in photos. Visor trim has pulled away from the edge of the front visor, probably due to leather shrinkage. It will take some work to get it adjusted back onto the edge of the leather front visor. Helmet is crushed in on top as seen in photos. There is a smaller "flat" area on the wearer's right side as seen in photos, located above the wearer's right side chinstrap post. Back spine has some denting. And the incorrect brass M95 enlisted artillery ball top had cracks on the neck area as seen in photos and has a small area chipped out and missing. And of course the top of the leather shell is pushed in, as seen in photos. I don't believe the leather shell is cracked from what I can see inside or outside.
Both visors are firmly attached with original stitching. Liner is fully intact, and shows a couple of small wear spots as seen in photos: forehead area, and on one side in the ear area where leather folds over helmet shell. Original leather adjustment thong is intact.
There is a sewn in machine embroidered cloth tag with the initials "J. P." on the underside of one of the liner "tongues" in the forehead area of helmet. There is a penciled name inside the upper forehead area between the grommet holes for front plate attachment, as seen in photos. I'm not sure if anyone can read the name or not. It's very hard to shoot it with adequate light shining inside and to not get a reflection off of the leather. Using a flash causes everything to white out.
Helmet should make for a good restoration project if someone has a wartime steel spike and spike base, and 4-split brads to put on the helmet in place of the artillery ball top and base. With some patience and TLC, the helmet should improve to look nicer if someone works on getting the top pushed back out, and the front visor trim pulled back onto the edge of leather visor.
Asking $300.00 or "Best Offer" on helmet.
Payment using PayPal is o.k. I prefer "friends and family" or please add 4% to cover the fees.
$14.00 Postage in USA 48-Continental States, mailed by Priority Mail.
$30 Postage to Canada.
$50.00 Postage to UK, Belgium, France, Netherlands, Germany.
Thanks,
Alan
Helmet is "B.A.X. 1915" Depot marked. And it is "173 R." and "1915" marked on the other side of the visor. I had to dampen the markings in order to photo them. It is also marked "Maury & Co., Mainz", and size "56". There is also a penciled name in forehead area, and a sewn in cloth label with the initials "J.P." inside liner.
Helmet was very dusty when acquired. I am guessing it came out of an attic recently, and it was found with two other M15 Prussian Infantry e.m. helmet in similar condition, all missing the chinstraps and kokardes on each helmet.
I am not sure why someone put an M95 Artillery Ball Top on this helmet. It looks like it has been on there literally "forever" since it came back to the U.S., but I can't prove that. The neck of the spike is cracked at a couple of the ventilator holes, and a piece of the brass is also chipped out and missing as seen in photos.
The ball top, base, and the 4-domed split brads are brass. So are the 2-split brads at either side of the front visor trim.
All other fittings on the helmet are steel, which include the side posts, front visor trim, back spine, Prussian front plate, and the two grommet rings for the front visor attachment.
The Prussian eagle front plate is missing one of the steel wire mounting loops on the back side of helmet. Two old match sticks hold the front plate firmly in place.
Size "56" marked inside in rear area as seen in photo.
"Maury & Co., Mainz" maker marked in forehead area. I was not able to get a full view photo of the mark due to light reflection.
Flaws with the helmet: Front visor trip is cracked on underside of visor, as seen in photos. Visor trim has pulled away from the edge of the front visor, probably due to leather shrinkage. It will take some work to get it adjusted back onto the edge of the leather front visor. Helmet is crushed in on top as seen in photos. There is a smaller "flat" area on the wearer's right side as seen in photos, located above the wearer's right side chinstrap post. Back spine has some denting. And the incorrect brass M95 enlisted artillery ball top had cracks on the neck area as seen in photos and has a small area chipped out and missing. And of course the top of the leather shell is pushed in, as seen in photos. I don't believe the leather shell is cracked from what I can see inside or outside.
Both visors are firmly attached with original stitching. Liner is fully intact, and shows a couple of small wear spots as seen in photos: forehead area, and on one side in the ear area where leather folds over helmet shell. Original leather adjustment thong is intact.
There is a sewn in machine embroidered cloth tag with the initials "J. P." on the underside of one of the liner "tongues" in the forehead area of helmet. There is a penciled name inside the upper forehead area between the grommet holes for front plate attachment, as seen in photos. I'm not sure if anyone can read the name or not. It's very hard to shoot it with adequate light shining inside and to not get a reflection off of the leather. Using a flash causes everything to white out.
Helmet should make for a good restoration project if someone has a wartime steel spike and spike base, and 4-split brads to put on the helmet in place of the artillery ball top and base. With some patience and TLC, the helmet should improve to look nicer if someone works on getting the top pushed back out, and the front visor trim pulled back onto the edge of leather visor.
Asking $300.00 or "Best Offer" on helmet.
Payment using PayPal is o.k. I prefer "friends and family" or please add 4% to cover the fees.
$14.00 Postage in USA 48-Continental States, mailed by Priority Mail.
$30 Postage to Canada.
$50.00 Postage to UK, Belgium, France, Netherlands, Germany.
Thanks,
Alan
Last edited:
