Prussian Kürassier M1915 EM Metalhelm

[RON]

After years of having it at the top of my most wanted helmets list, i finally found a very nice and quite decently priced Prussian Kürassier EM metalhelme M1915 (dated 1916) made by the maker that made the nicest ones as most would agree here, and by that i mean Lachmann of Berlin. I got it from a seller auctioning off the estate of a deceased collector in the Land down under… I haven’t received it yet so I’ll post the seller’s photos. As you can see, it has 1 oddity: The Prussian cockade has a non-serrated Reichs cockade glued on it for some reason. Knowing that only Saxony used non-serrated cockades on their Pickelhaubes prior to 1916 which makes these more valuable than regular ones, I need to find a way to “unglue” it without damaging the (large cavalry) Prussian cockade underneath it… any suggestions?

 

[2nd.Leibhusar]

Nice piece Ron ! Personally, I like this "Lachmann shape" the most.

 

[DonaldJones2]

try soaking it in hot water. They may just seperate by themselves, if not, use a sliver of wood to gently prise it off. wood won't damage the paint.

 

[KAGGR#1]

After years of having it at the top of my most wanted helmets list, i finally found a very nice and quite decently priced Prussian Kürassier EM metalhelme M1915 (dated 1916) made by the maker that made the nicest ones as most would agree here, and by that i mean Lachmann of Berlin. I got it from a seller auctioning off the estate of a deceased collector in the Land down under… I haven’t found the time to make my own photos yet so i will post the seller’s. As you can see, it has 1 oddity: The Prussian cockade has a non serrated Reichs cockade glued on it for some reason. Knowing that only Saxony used non serrated cockades on their Pickelhaubes prior to 1916 which makes these more valuable than regular ones, I need to find a way to “unglue” it without damaging the (large cavalry) Prussian cockade underneath it… any suggestions?
Here are the photos:

Very nice helmet
Steve

 

[Tony without Kaiser]

Hey! Congratulations that it a tough helmet to find.

I have had several occasions where I had to remove some form of glue similar to epoxy. A heat gun on low gently directing the heat between the layers might release the glue. Then gently heating the glue allowed me to remove it with tweezers. The problem with prying it up, is the glue may come off with all of the paint below it from the 65mm Kokarde.

 

[RON]

That’s what worries me the most: damaging the large Prussian cockade. Thanks for the tip Tony!

 

[michiel]

I would fist try to dissolve the by immersing it in hot but not boiling water, that should spare the original paint

 

[RON]

Recently received the helmet and finally found the time to take photos of my own. The extra non-serrated Reichs cockade turned out NOT to be glued to the (larger) cavalry Reichs cockade which was great news! The chinstrap is flaking with red rot and missing the stitches where the leather connects with both adjustment buckles but at least there’s a strap. You can see the stitching holes with remnants of thread though.

 

[RON]

And here’s my Prussian cavalry’s first family reunion since the end of WW1: