Hello everyone! I am new to pickelhaube collecting and therefore know very little on the subject. I have a Mexican helmet in my collection that I am hoping is authentic but don't know how/where to begin my investigation. It is my understanding that not many of them were made, and that they were of german origin. I would appreciate any info or guidance, I am eager to learn! Thanks in advance!
Mexican Pickelhaube Question!
- Thread starter rijo100
- Start date
Well, I am no expert here, have owned a couple that I regret selling, they are quite rare.
Yes, to you question on German made, they had a contract with German makers for these helmets. Yours has correct kokarden which is nice to see. The only questions I have on yours is the whether the trichter and plume go with this helmet or not. Mexican pickelhaubes do come with Black plumes. but the trichter on yours looks like different finish then rest of helmet? Could be the pictures. There are a couple other members on the forum that know way more about these then me.
James
Yes, to you question on German made, they had a contract with German makers for these helmets. Yours has correct kokarden which is nice to see. The only questions I have on yours is the whether the trichter and plume go with this helmet or not. Mexican pickelhaubes do come with Black plumes. but the trichter on yours looks like different finish then rest of helmet? Could be the pictures. There are a couple other members on the forum that know way more about these then me.
James
I have never owned one of these however, these are my concerns: the chin scales look too long, too thick and I would guess are reproductions. I am also concerned with the liner…..puffy wrinkled sweat band and the silk is machine stitched right around. This is not the German way. My opinion only.
Thanks James! Initially I assumed the difference in appearance/color was because the bronze had worn away on it with age but to be honest it could be a different color and I have no idea if this is what age would look like. Perhaps this piece is from a different helmet..
Thank you for your reply! With regards to the chin scales, do you think it is possible that they were put it on the Mexican side? Reason I ask is because there is a well preserved helmet kept at the Mexican military museum (see attached) which has similar ones, but perhaps I am not seeing the difference. And lastly, did machine stitching techniques exist back then (1900-1910)? Could this be a period replacement/repair for a broken liner? Thanks!
Attachments
ww1czechlegion
Well-known member
Hello,
I can clearly see that the entire helmet body, liner, and fittings are 100% modern era made in the United Kingdom Fake/Replica helmet, with the possible exception of the Mexican eagle style front plate, and possibly the Mexican kokarde might be original. But I have serious doubts about these two parts being original, when the rest of the helmet is entirely and clearly seen as being modern era made, in the United Kingdom in the past 30-40 years time.
Notice the strange shape of the back visor area where it meets the helmet body. This is 100% indicative of the UK made helmets.
So is the shape of the klunky, incorrect cross-base on the top of the helmet.
The puckered up, too-large-for-the helmet sweatband is also clearly indicative of a modern fake helmet, seen on each and every one of the made in the U.K. garbage helmets that fool many collectors.
I urge anyone who has doubts, to look at the threads of all the other made in U.K. helmets that have been posted over the past several years, most of them in the eBay section at the top of the forum, if I recall.
Best Wishes,
Alan
I can clearly see that the entire helmet body, liner, and fittings are 100% modern era made in the United Kingdom Fake/Replica helmet, with the possible exception of the Mexican eagle style front plate, and possibly the Mexican kokarde might be original. But I have serious doubts about these two parts being original, when the rest of the helmet is entirely and clearly seen as being modern era made, in the United Kingdom in the past 30-40 years time.
Notice the strange shape of the back visor area where it meets the helmet body. This is 100% indicative of the UK made helmets.
So is the shape of the klunky, incorrect cross-base on the top of the helmet.
The puckered up, too-large-for-the helmet sweatband is also clearly indicative of a modern fake helmet, seen on each and every one of the made in the U.K. garbage helmets that fool many collectors.
I urge anyone who has doubts, to look at the threads of all the other made in U.K. helmets that have been posted over the past several years, most of them in the eBay section at the top of the forum, if I recall.
Best Wishes,
Alan
CLOVIS 57
Well-known member
I completely agree with Alan. Reproduction of the 80's. (except maybe the Mexican eagle and the Mexican cokade => joker). If you magnify the photos, you can see that the finishes are not ‘clean’. The cross at the base of the point, for example, and the border edging are not evenly chiselled. The washers are modern and the central hole is too big. The silk of the headdress is a recent sateen, the red and green fabric under the visor and neck cover should be in waxed canvas, the silk should not be sewn to the sweatband in basane, and the stitching seems to be in nylon! (This can be checked with a heated needle applied to it. If it melts, it's synthetic!). etc, etc...
Best Wishes
Best Wishes
southsando
Well-known member
They have some in the Chapultepec Museum in Mexico City, see if you can compare to those.
