Maple Creek
Active member
Here one that I picked up a couple days ago. There are a couple of interesting or unusual things about it.
At first glance it appears to be a standard Model 1895 other ranks pickelhaube. On closer inspection, it turns out to be a Model 1915 pickelhuabe that has been painted to simulate brass trim. The first explanation for this is that it was done post-WWI by a collector and this may well be what it is. On the other hand, the paint appears very old and by appearances at least possibly period done. The helmet was an out-of-the-woodwork find that I got from a non-collector, who in turn got it from an "older gentleman" 45 years ago, which would make that person about the right age to be a US WWI vet. I didn't pay very much for this piece. At any rate, my initial feeling about it is that the repaint was likely period done. I'd welcome opinions and I wonder if anybody has any similar pieces in their collection.
When the seller and I were first communicating about this helmet he told me that his impression was that the older gentleman had told him that this came from "some sort of military academy." This didn't really sound right to me, so I dismissed this bit of information. When I had the helmet in hand, however, I could make out a the now faint stamp on the cape which included "Tr." According to "Uncle Joe's" very helpful website, this stands for Truppenubungsplatz or training ground, which is close in concept to a military academy. So the sellers recollection was an approximate match with the depot stamps on the cape. Interesting, no?
Mark D.
At first glance it appears to be a standard Model 1895 other ranks pickelhaube. On closer inspection, it turns out to be a Model 1915 pickelhuabe that has been painted to simulate brass trim. The first explanation for this is that it was done post-WWI by a collector and this may well be what it is. On the other hand, the paint appears very old and by appearances at least possibly period done. The helmet was an out-of-the-woodwork find that I got from a non-collector, who in turn got it from an "older gentleman" 45 years ago, which would make that person about the right age to be a US WWI vet. I didn't pay very much for this piece. At any rate, my initial feeling about it is that the repaint was likely period done. I'd welcome opinions and I wonder if anybody has any similar pieces in their collection.
When the seller and I were first communicating about this helmet he told me that his impression was that the older gentleman had told him that this came from "some sort of military academy." This didn't really sound right to me, so I dismissed this bit of information. When I had the helmet in hand, however, I could make out a the now faint stamp on the cape which included "Tr." According to "Uncle Joe's" very helpful website, this stands for Truppenubungsplatz or training ground, which is close in concept to a military academy. So the sellers recollection was an approximate match with the depot stamps on the cape. Interesting, no?
Mark D.
Ron