A Hessian M15, but gold-plated.

[CLOVIS 57]

Dear Sirs,

It is with great pleasure that I share with you my latest discovery in Hesse.

This is a Hessian spiked helmet, model 1915, made of sheet steel with a removable and retractable spike. The base and spike are of Prussian standard, as is often the case with model 1915 helmets. However, this helmet was delivered directly to B.A. XVIII because the eyelets are specifically arranged for the Hessian Lion.

All fittings are nickel-plated and then gold-plated. I think they are nickel-plated to make them rustproof. We know that gold plating at the time was very fragile; it wears off easily on the ‘Kriegsmetal’ of officer helmets.

Marked RBA 18 under the neck cover and F for Feldbrauchbar. Two round stamps on the bottom of the shell, one is faded and the other is dated 1918!!!


The mark is not that of a helmet manufacturer but that of a repair shop, which explains the late date.

Perhaps a helmet for a Rekruten-Depot instructor, for garrison duty in a barracks in Germany, for an honour guard, guard duty, etc.

 

[Rkinkade]

The process for plating gold (or brass) on steel is to first plate a nickel strike, followed by the gold or brass plate. The nickel acts as a primer in the electro-chemical process. Very nice and interesting helmet!!!

Ron

 

[CLOVIS 57]

Thank you, Ron, for the technical explanation. I know that for the chrome on vintage car bumpers, it's the opposite: first copper-plated, then chrome-plated.
I made sure that the process was authentic on this helmet before purchasing it. I was reassured by the cases I already have :

This Württemberg M95 shows these brass fittings. But the tip base is like the one above, made of gold-plated steel, but this time the rivets and retractable tip are made of brass!


This M15 ‘Kriegsmétal’ officer's sword has a gold-plated steel base (the gold plating has worn off) and a zinc tip. Only the Perlring, stars and eagle are made of brass.
This M15 ‘Kriegsmétal’ officer's helmet has a gold-plated steel base (the gold plating has worn off) and a zinc spike. Only the Perlring, stars and eagle are made of brass. Given the poor quality of the materials, I think it belonged to an Offizierstellvertreter appointed in the heat of battle, with a helmet supplied by the Army.




Here is another surprising helmet:
A Reserve Pioneer helmet, with a large gold Landwehr Cross (to be sewn onto the Landsturm waxed cap) on a nickel silver (active) eagle. The 4 rivets, M15 base and retractable nickel-plated steel spike. So again, a 1915 model but with the appearance of an M95. Obviously, it was undetectable with the camouflage helmet cover.