Lost Skeleton
Well-known member
It was suggested recently, in a sister thread, that wartime officer helmets represented some sort of private purchase, or optional, "conversion" and were equipped with "fake" chinscales. I disagree.
The Modell 1915 was established by AKO directive in September, 1915 and was intended to revolutionize the manufacture of all helmets, Offizier and Mannschaft. All helmets were to be equipped with a ventilated mount for attachment/removal of the appropriate finial, and all helmets were to be fitted with the Knopf 91 system for the attachment/removal/interchangeabilty of chinscales and chinstraps.
The concept was profound, albeit late in the day. By standardizing the hardware, eccentric finial and retainer threads would be eliminated and manufacturers throughout the empire would be conforming to Deutsches Institut für Normung, or DIN, type benchmarks.
To illustrate, this Baden infantry helmet represents an archetype. The integral chinscale rosettes conceal the Knopf 91:
The finial socket mount is slightly taller than the Mannschaft version to accommodate the officer pearlring:
Detail of the M15 officer chinscale. The tooling required for manufacturing the new Rosetten and Kokarden indicates a genuine commitment to the perpetuity of the Pickelhaube well beyond 1915. With respect to the M15 Kokarden, I have encountered both silver plated and plain zinc officer rings.
An exploded takedown view of the same helmet:
This Württemberg Feldartillerie provides an interesting variant with its cruciform base and vaulted scales:
Detail of the Kugel socket: The painted kruciform is most likely zinc; all other fittings are brass.
The two piece Kugel assembly: Like the Baden, both helmets could be fitted with a parade Trichter.
As testament to concept of the M15, one simple alteration creates a new Baden Fußartillerie helmet. Likewise, the spike can be mated to the Württemberg, and both spike and Kugel fit either pearlring base.
Chas.
The Modell 1915 was established by AKO directive in September, 1915 and was intended to revolutionize the manufacture of all helmets, Offizier and Mannschaft. All helmets were to be equipped with a ventilated mount for attachment/removal of the appropriate finial, and all helmets were to be fitted with the Knopf 91 system for the attachment/removal/interchangeabilty of chinscales and chinstraps.
The concept was profound, albeit late in the day. By standardizing the hardware, eccentric finial and retainer threads would be eliminated and manufacturers throughout the empire would be conforming to Deutsches Institut für Normung, or DIN, type benchmarks.
To illustrate, this Baden infantry helmet represents an archetype. The integral chinscale rosettes conceal the Knopf 91:
The finial socket mount is slightly taller than the Mannschaft version to accommodate the officer pearlring:
Detail of the M15 officer chinscale. The tooling required for manufacturing the new Rosetten and Kokarden indicates a genuine commitment to the perpetuity of the Pickelhaube well beyond 1915. With respect to the M15 Kokarden, I have encountered both silver plated and plain zinc officer rings.
An exploded takedown view of the same helmet:
This Württemberg Feldartillerie provides an interesting variant with its cruciform base and vaulted scales:
Detail of the Kugel socket: The painted kruciform is most likely zinc; all other fittings are brass.
The two piece Kugel assembly: Like the Baden, both helmets could be fitted with a parade Trichter.
As testament to concept of the M15, one simple alteration creates a new Baden Fußartillerie helmet. Likewise, the spike can be mated to the Württemberg, and both spike and Kugel fit either pearlring base.
Chas.
/
