Wurttemberg M15

[b.loree]

This should be a simple M15 restitch of a front visor, still it is an interesting helmet with two soldat names penciled in it.

The piece was sent without spike as I don't need it for this project.


The entire helmet is in very good condition. Note the six sided nut often seen on these M15's and late war ersatz helmets.

There are two legible names written in pencil here: W. Binder to the right of the spine tang and Walter Roch on the left. Inside the shell in black paint are the letters KL, so perhaps we have 3 soldaten who wore this helmet? As can be seen there are other penciled markings....MW B Dep III ???

Viser off and stitch holes have been cleaned out. Trench mud still present on the wappen.

The original threads were ripped apart as the helmet shell shrunk away from the visor. These have to be cleaned out and more mud residue on the right.

Sometimes radical solutions have to be used in order to achieve one's goals! To be continued....

 

[Lars13]

I found eight "Walter Roch" in the German Verlustlisten, six from the Saxon Verlustliste and 2 from the Prussian Verlustliste, but hailing from Magdeburg, Saxony Anhalt., so typically more a Saxon name.

Trench mud still present on the wappen

If that is supported by the provenance then I would have considered leaving the Pickelhaube in its original state as a unique piece of history; the loose visor doesn't display that bad
Regards,
Lars

 

[USN]

Outstanding work! Hopefully my M15 wurttemberg will come out as good as yours.

 

[b.loree]

At present, I have stitched across the visor once and the shell is still pulling inward causing a small gap between it and the shell. I had hoped that my new stitches would get things back into the correct position. My solution now, is to cut my stitches, wet the front rim of the helmet, block it and leave it to dry. This should have been an easy project but each helmet brings different challenges.

 

[ww1czechlegion]

Many thanks for taking on the work for this helmet Brian, I appreciate it!

Here's a link to some information from another thread, in which Philippe did excellent research on the WW1 Wurttemberg soldiers who wore this helmet. The link is found here:
https://www.pickelhaubes.com/xf/threads/another-m15-wurttemburg-enlisted-helmet.15143/#post-102371

Best Wishes,

Alan

 

[b.loree]

Thanks for the link Alan, I was not aware that you had posted these names previously . I finished the restitch today btw and will post photos. Twenty four hours on a hat stretcher solved the problem and the piece is finished.

 

[b.loree]

The finished product, and my apologies for the photography. I am taking these on a condo balcony so no matter how much I try, the roof above me casts a shadow. I could hang out over the railing to escape this but I'm not sure Alan wants his helmet endangered this way... it's a 7 story drop!

I did not have to go back to square one on this project, I put a hat stretcher into the piece for 24 hrs.

This photo also shows what shrinkage looks like, every wrinkle in that trim has been caused by the leather shrinking over 100 years. The trim has even split to the right of the central axis. No wonder why so many of our helmets have split or missing trim.

Another photo showing shrinkage at the rear of the shell. originally that spine fit snug up to the shell. Amazingly, the soldered prong on the underside of the spine is still holding but you can see exactly where it is located. Next, the Hessen!

 

[b.loree]

The M 15 Wurttemberg wappen: