My latest restoration project involves a unique helmet as you can see from the following pics. The helmet is well marked: 134R, 133RR 1Bat, 54, XIX. These tell us first, that the helme was originally issued to IR 134 ( 10th Saxon Inf Regt., based at Plauen estab 1881), after use by this regular line regt, it was reissued to Reserve Regt 133 1st Battalion. The 54 is the size of the helmet and XIX is the Army Korps number, both 133 and 134 were from this AK. The only stamp missing would be the year that IR 134 first accepted the helmet.
Next, what restoration has to be done? Both visors need to be restitched, the shell needs to be blocked and put back into correct shape as does the rear visor. The spike support disc is missing as is one loop on the rear of the wappen. I have these original parts. The liner is exceptionally dry and stiff, it needs some Lexol applied to moisturize the leather. The liner has to be pulled up out of the shell if the visors are to be restitched and this can not be done safely as is, because the leather will crack or one of the fingers will break off. The inside of the helmet is also dirty and needs to be cleaned. Here are the "before" pictures:
The 133 RR, 1 Bat, 54 markings:
An inside shot showing the shrapnel/bullet hole, one liner finger missing. The liner in this section is really dried out and stiff....blood??
The 134 R, XIX markings, the AK stamp is faint but just above the other one:
The shell and rear visor were re hydrated using the plastic bag/wet news paper method. One word of caution...make sure that there are no holes in the bag you place the wet news paper in, otherwise the water goes directly on to the shell...not good! Once hydrated, the shell was blocked on a head form covered in plastic bag so the liner does not stick to the styrofoam. The rear visor was pinned into correct shape using another head form, always with plastic bag between the leather and the styrofoam. Allow to dry.
Front visor pinned into place before stitching.
Front visor is stitched back on.....BUT HOUSTON we have a problem!!
The main cause of problems with this piece is that it has dried out over 100+ years. The visor stitching dissolved/broke as a result and there are 2 spots on the front trim where it actually buckled from the pressure of the shell drying and collapsing inward. This piece comes from Texas so perhaps this may account for this situation. This visor trim problem is very common and the solution is to cut approx 1/4 " off one side of the trim. Actually, you basically cut off the original hole section and drill a new one for the split brad...it is a one shot deal so you have to know what you are doing. The buckled sections of the trim will also be carefully straightened out using curved pliers. This will add just a touch of length to the trim. I am keeping the liner tongues pulled out because they are still delicate and I do not want to cause further damage. The rear spine, front visor trim and wappen all have to be put back on before these can be carefully put back into place.
A picture showing the trimmed end of the Saxon visor compared to an un cut piece of trim. You can see how much has been trimmed off and a new hole drilled.
The trim has been put back on, not perfect at the front but snug and in place at the sides.
Next, what restoration has to be done? Both visors need to be restitched, the shell needs to be blocked and put back into correct shape as does the rear visor. The spike support disc is missing as is one loop on the rear of the wappen. I have these original parts. The liner is exceptionally dry and stiff, it needs some Lexol applied to moisturize the leather. The liner has to be pulled up out of the shell if the visors are to be restitched and this can not be done safely as is, because the leather will crack or one of the fingers will break off. The inside of the helmet is also dirty and needs to be cleaned. Here are the "before" pictures:
The 133 RR, 1 Bat, 54 markings:
An inside shot showing the shrapnel/bullet hole, one liner finger missing. The liner in this section is really dried out and stiff....blood??
The 134 R, XIX markings, the AK stamp is faint but just above the other one:
The shell and rear visor were re hydrated using the plastic bag/wet news paper method. One word of caution...make sure that there are no holes in the bag you place the wet news paper in, otherwise the water goes directly on to the shell...not good! Once hydrated, the shell was blocked on a head form covered in plastic bag so the liner does not stick to the styrofoam. The rear visor was pinned into correct shape using another head form, always with plastic bag between the leather and the styrofoam. Allow to dry.
Front visor pinned into place before stitching.
Front visor is stitched back on.....BUT HOUSTON we have a problem!!
The main cause of problems with this piece is that it has dried out over 100+ years. The visor stitching dissolved/broke as a result and there are 2 spots on the front trim where it actually buckled from the pressure of the shell drying and collapsing inward. This piece comes from Texas so perhaps this may account for this situation. This visor trim problem is very common and the solution is to cut approx 1/4 " off one side of the trim. Actually, you basically cut off the original hole section and drill a new one for the split brad...it is a one shot deal so you have to know what you are doing. The buckled sections of the trim will also be carefully straightened out using curved pliers. This will add just a touch of length to the trim. I am keeping the liner tongues pulled out because they are still delicate and I do not want to cause further damage. The rear spine, front visor trim and wappen all have to be put back on before these can be carefully put back into place.
A picture showing the trimmed end of the Saxon visor compared to an un cut piece of trim. You can see how much has been trimmed off and a new hole drilled.
The trim has been put back on, not perfect at the front but snug and in place at the sides.
