Restoration project

[seagull]

Can anyone advise on this helm? First one I have seen with a rim to the rear neck guard. All metal parts silver plated (worn) brass though star bolts for the cruciform spike base may have been gilded (unsure). Top section of spike now missing as is the Wappen (Soooo many of my projects are missing the wappen!) Old solder remains rather haphazardly dotted around the top of the remaining spike base, seeming to indicate that a removable spike was never an option (no Haarbusch permitted to this unit then?) Although that could have been an old, post-war repair of some kind? Flat silver plated chinscales and officer kokarden - the Reichskokarde is missing its silver (white) ring. The chinscales themselves may be nickel silver as, if they are plated then the plating seems thicker and in much better condition than the rest.
Two interesting indentations in the leather just below and inside the two holes for the wappen, seems to indicate an eagle overlaid with State arms of some kind where the concealed fixings indented the leather.
I am thinking Infantry, pre 1895 and -perhaps- Oldenburg?? or some such?
Any theories gratefully accepted to help bring this one back from the dead.
Cheers all,
Steve

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[kuerassier]

A a rim to the rear neck guard is typical for firemens helmets.

 

[seagull]

Thanks Keurrassier, Damn! there goes my hopes of Oldenburg!! Never mind, I was actually given this, free, gratis, by an old friend who picked it up at auction by mistake! He thought he was bidding on something else and was dumbfounded when the auctioneers clerk handed him this with his bill! I finally found someone who knows even less about this game than I do! Still, as someone said recently "make a nice former for an Uberzug."
Cheers,
Steve

 

[poniatowski]

One thing you could do is put the cockades / chin scales back in order. Nice helmet for free! Nothing wrong with civil helmets, keep an eye out for a spike or other and add it to the collection!

Ron

 

[seagull]

Yes Ron, I agree. Not every day someone gives you something like this but I did at least return the favour and give him a nice silver hilted Kukri in gratitude - seemed like it was the least I could do! The Chinscales and Kokarden are actually pretty good and will clean up a treat. I have already found a top section for the spike and plan to do as you say. The hole in the plan would be the Wappen - I have been looking for examples of Fire Service Pickelhaube (as opposed to those with the reinforced combs) to guide me in what I should be looking for but there seems little info on these. Anyone know of any books on these?
Cheers
Steve

 

[poniatowski]

Yes Ron, I agree. Not every day someone gives you something like this but I did at least return the favour and give him a nice silver hilted Kukri in gratitude - seemed like it was the least I could do! The Chinscales and Kokarden are actually pretty good and will clean up a treat. I have already found a top section for the spike and plan to do as you say. The hole in the plan would be the Wappen - I have been looking for examples of Fire Service Pickelhaube (as opposed to those with the reinforced combs) to guide me in what I should be looking for but there seems little info on these. Anyone know of any books on these?
Cheers
Steve

I don't know of any books. Reminds me though, a local Legion member (American Legion, not Foreign) wanted to get rid of all of his dad's WWI keep sakes. These included an M15 Pickelhaube, missing the liner, an M16 Stahlhelm, a US gas mask, a US Tunic (wool) from the 13th engineers (I think) with all of the brass and patches, and a US WWI wool greatcoat that had been altered to fit a child (himself). He refused any payment or trade what so ever. It really made my day!
Coincidentally, he died last week and was buried yesterday.

Ron

 

[b.loree]

Hi Steve...definately a fire officer helmet. I have one very similar around here somewhere (stiill have stuff in boxes). The dead give away is the re enforcement around the rear visor. This just does not happen on the military helmets. You have done well really....the set of scales is worth $250 and the kokarden say $60 each because of their condition. Not even considering the shell. So really a nice gift and you did not overly repay his kindness. Regards, Brian

 

[seagull]

Thanks all for your input. I am really not so disappointed to have you confirm it is a non-miltary helm as I actually like it quite a lot. The skull has held a very good shape over the years and its faults are not completely insurmountable. I am very happy at the prospect of helping it back to health and an honourable place on my shelves! Incidentally, the kokarden are Reich/Prussian- the only solid clue to its origins- so I shall search for any old pictures of Prussian Fire service personnel to help in trying to ID whatever wappen might have occupied the space and see what transpires. BTW my friend (being a dealer, with a living to earn) sold the kukri for £200 so I figure we both did pretty well out of that unofficial transaction! Oh boy, how I love this game!
Best regards to all,
Steve

 

[seagull]

Just wondered, is it normal for Fire Officers to have a Perlring on the spike and Star bolts on the spike base? Thought Star bolts were only given to successful attendees of Miltary Staff College? Perhaps there was a Fire Service Staff college?? These three Star bolts are normal, about 3mm diam hand made threads (snipped-off ends) with squared hand-made brass nuts. The front lobe has a machine made small nut and bolt with washer and all have been there forever (tarnish patterns match) as has the base itself (perfectly fits the deep indentation in the crown leather) so no danger of swapped parts.
Cheers
Steve