Prussian Inf. EM M1915 Pickelhaube - 1914 Markings?!
- Thread starter RON
- Start date
Hey Ron,
I would not have a problem with a 1914 dated helmet with M1915 fittings, bear in mind, the M1815 was adopted to conserve brass for munitions, and any leather helmet bodies made, but not issued, before the adoption of the M1915 design, would have had the steel fittings used, and some would have had the brass fittings removed and replaced with the steel fittings.
Best
Gus
I would not have a problem with a 1914 dated helmet with M1915 fittings, bear in mind, the M1815 was adopted to conserve brass for munitions, and any leather helmet bodies made, but not issued, before the adoption of the M1915 design, would have had the steel fittings used, and some would have had the brass fittings removed and replaced with the steel fittings.
Best
Gus
Not really, a vintage Mustang with a modern engine, does not represent any point in history other than now, but a M1915 helmet that was made using a helmet shell produced in 1914 would not be in the same ball park, as it would represent the use of available components to fill the need for equipment. This is all assuming that the helmet is not something that has been put together recently by a collector or vendor, but looking at this example, I can not see any indication of it having been messed with. If anything, this is like a vintage Mustang with an early production engine.
Best
Gus
Best
Gus
I have seen many pre war brass helmets converted to M15s Ron. Sometimes, they even poped out the brass grommets. What is not legit in my opinion is a brass helme with steel grommets. To me this signifies that the piece has been upgraded with brass fittings in order to sell it.
Hey Brian, I missed that it was missing the grommets, that would indicate that the helmet was completed as an M1895, but had the brass removed to upgrade it to am M1915. I had a Great Aunt from near Strassbourg, and she told of the Germans withdrawing from her village, and taking everything made of brass with them, her mother was very happy that German soldiers were in their house even removing the brass tacks from the floor, when she asked her mother why she was happy, her other explained that it meant the war would be over soon, because if the Germans had to scrounge for brass tacks, they were beaten. I would bet that the brass grommets were removed to recover the metal.
Best
Gus
Best
Gus
Good story Gus, and it makes total sense. Brings new light to the phrase: getting down to brass tacks. Which of course dates me unfortunately! I doubt that few of the younguns on this forum have heard that one before. Yes definately brass grommets were taken out for the metal. I have also seen empty holes next to steel grommeted ones as well.