Shiny and new !

[Spiker]

Tutorial on how to ruin a perfectly good old salty grey.

 

[Kaiser Wilhelm II]

I saw that video quite some time ago, and forgot about it, it was not until recently that I re-discovered it, and it is fairly unfortunate, especially considering that this fella has some pretty neat things within his collection.

 

[Khukri]

I saw that video quite some time ago, and forgot about it, it was not until recently that I re-discovered it, and it is fairly unfortunate, especially considering that this fella has some pretty neat things within his collection.

All shiny!

 

[2nd.Leibhusar]

Some people should be banned from collecting!
You wouldn't want to think that someone like that would ever get his hands on a GdC

 

[argonne]

What an idiot....
The result: a ruined genuine piece of history, a dirty piece of cloth and so much time lost for absolutely nothing...
And the best at the end: cockades remounted on wrong sides
Philippe

 

[Cop_Out]

I'm new to collecting militaria generally, and pickelhaubes specifically. Is it wrong to clean them? Is using Ren-wax for preservation acceptable?
Thanks for your time!
T

 

[Khukri]

I just gently dust them....
An old shaving brush.
And a soft duster a few times a year.

 

[Cop_Out]

I just gently dust them....
An old shaving brush.
And a soft duster a few times a year.

Thank you very much!

 

[CLOVIS 57]

Beaucoup de temps perdu pour rien. Je ne vois aucun mal à dépoussiérer. Cependant, il est important d'entretenir la jugulaire pour éviter qu'elle ne sèche et ne se casse.

 

[Tony without Kaiser]

Hang on, let’s be kind. Many of us, me included, used to clean helmets. My site used to have a cleaning section, before I removed it. Restorations are very common on this Forum. I believe this person on YouTube is well meaning, but possibly not as experienced as we ancient collectors are with Wartime helmets.

 

[b.loree]

I have never cleaned an M15 except to dust off the exterior and use mild dish soap and water to clean out the interior. We have discussed this many times here and my answer is always the same.....you own it and want to clean it then do so but do it carefully and research the best, least dangerous ways of cleaning. Personally, if a customer wants the brass fittings cleaned I will do it because it is their property not mine. I will also advise them on the pros and cons. On my own helmet fittings....I do not like Cadbury's Chocolate Brown so I will clean these once. If the oxidization is not CCB and still looks like brass I leave it alone. I am also very reluctant to clean customer chin scales as many were gilt and I do not like removing this even though it has oxidized. This is what I do. However, ...."To Each His Own".

 

[CLOVIS 57]

Yes, in 1970 in France the fashion was to restore the shine of new. Today, it's the state of discovery that counts.
It"doesn "t hurt to remove the pigeon droppings and secular grime, which are not of the period. 😊

 

[Spiker]

Feldgrau was supposed to be mat, but it does become shiny after some ware, so you will find more shiny ones than the ones in depo condition, and for beginning collectors it may seem that the shine look is the reference.