Hi folks; first time post. Like many of us, I enjoy treasure hunting at pawn, gun, and antique shops when I drive somewhere. Ever since I was stationed in Germany with the Army in 1988, I’ve wanted a decent Pickelhaube at a good price. I never found one that spoke to me. That ended in early March when I picked up this Prussian Garde enlisted (other ranks) Pickelhaube at an antique mall in Guthrie, OK for a really good price. It was missing its kokarden but other than that, it was complete and not in too bad of shape.
A century plus of sitting on a flat surface had popped the threads on the visors and the middle retainer on the rear spine (see pics), but the rest seemed good based on my familiarity with other period original items (leather and metal aging). I grabbed it for $340 and after some research, Brian Loree from this site came up over and over again as “the guy” for a correct and meticulous repair. After some great back and forth emails, I sent him the helmet in early May (tarrifs… OUCH) and got it back two weeks ago.
Brian re-attached the visors, repaired the popped elements on the rear spine, and found me a set of original and correct kokarden that matched the overall condition of the helmet. For the quality of the work and going rates on kokarden, I consider his rates to be VERY reasonable. I needed someone with experience, attention to detail, and a passion for the item (as well as someone trustworthy and easy to work with). He is all of these; you literally cannot tell the restoration is not original.
As you can see, he used the correct thread and a needle that fit through the original holes without stretching or popping them. He also replaced the rusty ten-penny nail holding the wappen with the correct wedge-shaped leather tabs from period scrap leather. I appreciate him ID-ing the chinstrap as correct and the wappen as original the helmet. Finding replacements would have scrapped the great buy I got. The leather and metal remains as-found with no cleaning or preservation agents.
Here are some before and after pics. Thanks Brian for the assistance, education, and this great site!!!
Before
After
A century plus of sitting on a flat surface had popped the threads on the visors and the middle retainer on the rear spine (see pics), but the rest seemed good based on my familiarity with other period original items (leather and metal aging). I grabbed it for $340 and after some research, Brian Loree from this site came up over and over again as “the guy” for a correct and meticulous repair. After some great back and forth emails, I sent him the helmet in early May (tarrifs… OUCH) and got it back two weeks ago.
Brian re-attached the visors, repaired the popped elements on the rear spine, and found me a set of original and correct kokarden that matched the overall condition of the helmet. For the quality of the work and going rates on kokarden, I consider his rates to be VERY reasonable. I needed someone with experience, attention to detail, and a passion for the item (as well as someone trustworthy and easy to work with). He is all of these; you literally cannot tell the restoration is not original.
As you can see, he used the correct thread and a needle that fit through the original holes without stretching or popping them. He also replaced the rusty ten-penny nail holding the wappen with the correct wedge-shaped leather tabs from period scrap leather. I appreciate him ID-ing the chinstrap as correct and the wappen as original the helmet. Finding replacements would have scrapped the great buy I got. The leather and metal remains as-found with no cleaning or preservation agents.
Here are some before and after pics. Thanks Brian for the assistance, education, and this great site!!!
Before
After
Last edited:
The solder job on the rear spine pin went well, thanks to Tony S. who decades ago sent me a letter entitled "Soldering for Dummies". I do not have his expertise but I still have the letter and can follow his simplified directions! 