Prussian (Hessen?) M1908 converted to M1916

[Peter B]

I picked this up yesterday. Similar to another hemet discussed on this site here:

https://www.pickelhaubes.com/xf/threads/pickelhaube-officers-1st-year-volunteer-turned-into-a-m15-pickelhaube-with-cardboard-visors.16251/#post-112289

Hard to make out but I think it is JR 116 on the left of the rear peak. Has II B 5 K on the right (which I take as Second Battalion, 5th Company) and the 1908 stamp. Funny too is that the XVIII has a 2 after it.

It has had the holes filled in and steel grommets put in. Interesting patches on the inside where the holes were filled.

Has a replacement chinstrap and I put one original and one repro cockade on for now just for display.

Any thoughts on its history and the 2 after the XVIII?

If it was originally Hessen I can finally say I have an original Hessen (sort of...).

Thanks.

Peter

 

[Khukri]

BJA [Bekleidungs Instandsetzungs Amt] XVIII

 

[Peter B]

BJA [Bekleidungs Instandsetzungs Amt] XVIII

Thanks. Any idea what the 2 is after the BJA XVIII?

 

[coert65]

Thanks. Any idea what the 2 is after the BJA XVIII?

From what I can see on the pictures Peter, that 2 is part of the other stamps there, and as such has nothing to do with the BJA XVIII stamp.
I also have a Hessen M15 in my collection with the BJA XVIII stamp, but with a little f stamp there, meaning Feldbrauchbar.

 

[Khukri]

Thanks. Any idea what the 2 is after the BJA XVIII?

Who will tell...BJA repair mark or an extra Regimental or Kompanie marking? Instandsetzung meaning repair.

 

[Lars13]

From what I can see on the pictures Peter, that 2 is part of the other stamps there, and as such has nothing to do with the BJA XVIII stamp.

Hi Peter,
I agree with Coert, and I also see the little “f” here on your helmet.
Regards,
Lars

 

[Peter B]

Hi Peter,
I agree with Coert, and I also see the little “f” here on your helmet.
Regards,
Lars

You are right. On closer examination it does seem to be an f after the 2. I had thought it was just something that had got scratched into the visor there. So 2 f

 

[John Josef]

Very interesting Helmet Peter congratulations, I really like the history and how items were used and reused for the war effort.

re Hessen M15's hang in there they still appear and are out there for sure. I was lucky to finally add one this year after years of hunting and sometimes missing by a click of the keyboard.

 

[b.loree]

One step closer to a real Hessen Pete! Those patches on the inside are typical and many times they did not even bother with these after they removed the brass grommets for the M15 conversion. The Prussian wappen can hide a lot. BA XVIII is of course correct for Hesse and sometimes they use the Arabic BA 18.

 

[Peter B]

Thanks Brian

 

[argonne]

Any idea what the 2 is after the BJA XVIII?

I think I see a "1" on the left of the "2". There were some units which did not use the I and II and III to designate the declassification of helmets during periodic equipment inspections, but used 1 and 2. I own a named M95 prussian helmet, first JR85 and later moved to a guy attached to the Bezirkskommando of the 36th Infantry Brigade (JR31 and JR85) in Kiel (regimentally stamped 36.K. "36" is the number of the Brigade and "K" is for Kiel) that shows this kind of declassification stamps.
I think that the 1 and the 2 on your helmet are also the stamps documenting this declassification.
Philippe

 

[argonne]

And Weitze also sold this year a similar helmet with this kind of declassification stamps.