Latest addition to my Scottish collection

RoyalScotsVols

RoyalScotsVols

Well-known member
I recently managed to add this 1847 pattern ‘Albert’ officer’s helmet of the Queens Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry to my collection – I already have another with the dark green cock-feather plume but this has the black horse hair version. I pictured my first helmet and outlined the history of this regiment in a previous post.

This latest helmet was extremely dirty but a careful, non-abrasive clean has shown it to be in remarkably good condition with even the inner lining remaining intact. Unfortunately, it does not seem to have been previously well stored as when I picked it up it had been shoehorned into a battered old storage tin for an infantry officer’s helmet which had caused damage to the ear rosettes. The plume also remains a ‘work in progress’ although this should regain its correct shape with time and further gentle work.

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Jamie,

Very nice. Lyle and Turnbull auction?

I have dealt with misshapen plumes by washing with a mild shampoo in lukewarm water and then washing again with conditioner, again in lukewarm water. Rinse out and then position somewhere that the wet plume can hang vertically and drip. Gentle brushing once dry. The key is the conditioner which softens the hairs. Works really well. Not my idea - picked up the tip somewhere. You may well do it this way already.

Patrick
 
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Hi Patrick,

Yes, this one came from the L&T sale. When I went to view it, it appeared to be a fairly early helmet from the GY as it had the regimental pattern of plume stem (later helmets I’ve seen reverted to the standard Dragoon pattern) and was quite heavy even for a ’47 pattern, which indicated the skull metal was quite thick. It was very dirty having obviously been sitting on a shelf somewhere for many years – this had caused minor distortion to the front peak binding (now re-straightened) and the bottom of the plume had curled rather than hanging straight. Being an officer’s plume, it should extend circa 2 inch below the level of the rear skirt of the helmet but having been on a shelf it hadn't been able to hang correctly. However, all these issues were pretty superficial.
chinstrap said:
I have dealt with misshapen plumes by washing with a mild shampoo in lukewarm water and then washing again with conditioner, again in lukewarm water.......
Click to expand...

This is the procedure I use – you’ve given a very good summary here. Before my first photos I’d removed the worst of the dirt with a damp cloth and gently teased out by hand most of the matted and entangled areas. I’ve now washed and conditioned in a similar manner to what you describe although I don’t immerse the ‘shaving brush’ upstand nor the top of the plume as I don’t want to excessively wet any stitching holding the plume together. Something further that I tend to do is that whilst the plume is still damp, I comb my fingers through it, stopping and gently teasing out any remaining entangled areas. The plume is now more fulsome and hangs correctly – depending on the conditioner used it also gives a pleasant smell in the cabinet!

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