Unusual Felt Ersatz Helmet with Fiber Visors

[ww1czechlegion]

Here's a sleeper ersatz helmet I bought today that will need a little TLC to steam the felt body back into shape.

Photos are from the seller.

The front & back visors are either cardboard or fiber material with the riveted attachment to the felt helmet body, similar to the Depaheg Patent ersatz helmet I acquired a few years ago. I know that James has one of those helmets, as well as Karel.

Hopefully the black felt body will steam back into place with some careful work. I may actually take it to a professional hat blocker to reshape it. The leather liner has water damage to it, so I don't know what that part of it will be like when it arrives.

Best Regards,

Alan

 

[ww1czechlegion]

One last photo

Alan

 

[kaiser]

Thats one you don't see every day
I just love those rare ersatz helmets
I have similar one but on mine the fiber visors are sewn on the felt body instead on the use of rivets
You have found one i also would like to ad to the collection

Jonas

 

[pickelhauben]

Yes a rare find.

I as well would like to add this to my felt collection.

 

[Spiker]

nice find :thumb up:

 

[SkipperJohn]

Outstanding! You don't often find one of these.

John :bravo: :bravo: :bravo:

 

[J.LeBrasseur]

Very interesting and nice find Alan!

James

 

[edwin]

Nice helmet! Congrats and thanks for sharing.

Regards,

Edwin

 

[ww1czechlegion]

I believe that I may have found a photo of this type of helmet being worn.

At first when I was looking at it before I purchased it, I thought the helmet this soldier is wearing was one of the Depaheg Patent fiber body helmets with the riveted visors.

When looking at this photograph, notice how the front visor is shiny in appearance. Then look at the helmet shell body and notice how it has a matte appearance, definitely in contrast to the shiny reflective look of the finish on the front visor. I believe the helmet shell is a black felt body, and the visors are riveted fiber visors, similar to the helmet I have that started this thread.

I will see if I can get a better close up shot of the helmet for everyone to see better the contrast between the visor and the helmet body.

Alan

 

[kaiser]

In close up you can see "dots" that represent those revits to hold the visor on to the body of the helmet , so this picture is a actual evidence of a soldier wearing this rare helmet

Regards

Jonas

 

[b.loree]

Yes, two rivets can definitely be seen! Well done Alan.

 

[pickelhauben]

Great find .
I have been looking for one of these for years !!!

 

[ww1czechlegion]

Yes, two rivets can definitely be seen! Well done Alan.

Thanks Brian! Yes, I can see 2-of the 3 rivets on the front visor, and the viewer's left side of the end of visor larger domed split brad as well.

 

[ww1czechlegion]

Great find .
I have been looking for one of these for years !!!

Thanks Matthew, it's the first one I ever saw that came up for sale. I was very fortunate to acquire it, even though it's not in pristine condition and needs some re-shaping.

Best Wishes,

Alan

 

[Oldenburg]

Great find and now with the corresponding photo evidence!
Thanks for introducing,

Frank

 

[Amybellars]

Great find Alan.

 

[JohnS3rd]

Very interesting addition to your collection! Good luck on the restoration of this unique helmet.

 

[Lars13]

Hi,
A little late, but the army museum in Brussels has one of these:

Regards,
Lars