Saxe M67 Restitch

b.loree

b.loree

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Another helmet sent to me for a bit of repair...Saxe M67. This is in excellent shape other than the fact that the stitching on both visors has rotted away. For our new collectors, these older helmets have a higher profile (dome shape) heavier leather construction, bolt on chin scales and a pearl ring around the spike neck. There is also no rear spine on the M67. As pickelhaube design progressed, the helmet height shrank, lighter gauge leather was used, pearl ring removed and M91 side posts were introduced. Some "before photos":
IMG_3403.jpegI recommend to most customers that they remove all fittings which can be easily be taken off before mailing the helmet

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We can see the higher profile here and the hole for the old style bolt on chin scales. Some of these older helmets have had M91 posts put on to upgrade them.
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No rear spine on this model.
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The liner is in awesome shape and I see no evidence of it being a replacement! Note the different spike base split brads. In the Saxe manner the inner side of the visor trim has a manufacturer stamp.....G. F. Damm.
 
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Thanks to all for your comments! Mathew, remember how much I whined/complained while restitching the liners into all of your filz helmes! :) I am in Florida as most of you know and you have also probably heard of the record snow storm they had here recently. Temps have been cold here and not conducive to "balcony haube stitching". However, today was an excellent day, so I got to work:
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A pic showing the big thick M60 rear visor pinned into place for stitching. These older heavier/thicker helmets are usually easier to restitch.
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Yours truly "stitchin haube" with blue skies and the Gulf of Mexico in the background, life is good! On second thought that smile looks a bit devilish.....would you buy a used car from this guy?? :unsure: The ring is an original German silver patriotic one, dated 1914-1916 in the enamel.
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On my way back after stitching the "first pass" across the shell. The first pass stitches every other stitch hole. I finished this today but lost the light for photographing. More to come.
 
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Congratulations on this beautiful helmet, so fresh for its age!
On the other hand, the model with a round base (not cruciform), a rounded visor (not angular) and no rear spine is the M67.
The same applies to the folding leg rivets on the M67 (rather than the screws and nuts).
On the Prussian M67 the eagle is fixed by long tabs, which staple into bridges fixed to the schell, but not for the front plates of other states like the Saxon star, still with threaded rods and nut.

A good point about the arrow-shaped folding tabs: this is the special feature of the Saxon M67 rivets;
For information, the perlring disappeared from the infantry spike in 1887 (round base). It remained on the dragon point or chevauleger with a cruciform base.
 
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Post #2
That is at least a dozen times I have seen a Saxon 1860 with those pointed brads.
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A good point about the arrow-shaped folding tabs: this is the special feature of the Saxon M67 rivets;
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Very interesting. But may I ask again if these pointed brads were only used in the 1860s? Or can they also be found on later helmets?
 
In my limited experience with the M95 Saxe.....the brads are as used by the Prussians. This is the oldest Saxe helme I have handled, I have owned a few others and never seen these before.
 
Fini:
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The rear visor is now restitched tight to the shell as it was originally.
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The leather used for this visor is 5mm thick!
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The front visor presents a bit of a problem, :unsure: the stitch holes are not as defined as the other visor...not easy to see. They are clearly visible on the inside though, so I am going to have to use those to line up the visor holes with the shell. The leather here is not in as good condition as the rear piece. However, the thicker leather will help and I have dealt with worse situations many times. Today it is going to rain but I have another sunny day coming tomorrow.
 
Thank you Sandy as I said, working on these older pieces is fun and a bit easier. We all know the evolution of these helmets to... thinner leather, lower profile, lighter weight etc. However, thinner and lighter led to problems which I see in restoration: more reaction to environmental conditions (heat/Humidity), more loss of finish/crazing/flaking, the shells are less stable and don't hold shape. The older finish was thicker and more hardy and I believe had more tar/asphaltum in the formula. It probably did not "shine up" like the later formulas but was stronger. The switch in officer liners to fancy ribbed silk was in my opinion a "fashion decision" by the manufacturer. These look pretty and come in different colours but the silk stains (hair products/skin oils) and tears easily. So yes, cool looking when new but pretty soiled and gross after a few years. My thoughts only after decades of working on these helmets.
 
Thanks guys! Yes Sandy it’s the same in CN week after week of grey days, very depressing. This is why we spend the $ to spend 2 months here.
 
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