Sandmann
Well-known member
Dear fellow forum members,I would like to show my latest addition to my collection.
It is a rather badly treated helmet M1860 for NCOs, which was restored to its former glory by my friend Wojtek. Once again, thank you very much
When I bought it, the French dealer said it was a helmet in good condition. Just with a sunken shell, which could easily be repaired. However, you saw the reality in Wojtek's restoration post
.
www.pickelhaubes.com
At first I was pretty disappointed and would have loved to send the helmet back to the dealer. But Wojtek was on fire and put so much heart and soul into the repair that I've now fallen in love with the helmet too 
.
Nevertheless, I won’t deal with the eBay seller “aisne1914” again. When I confronted him with the reality, he told me that the helmet was 150 years old and that some previous tinkering with glue is quite normal. He didn't answer my question, why he didn't at least describe it properly? He should have noticed the torn seams. I hoped to catch him on his honor, but after his first evasive answer, he didn't answer anymore.
It is a rather badly treated helmet M1860 for NCOs, which was restored to its former glory by my friend Wojtek. Once again, thank you very much
When I bought it, the French dealer said it was a helmet in good condition. Just with a sunken shell, which could easily be repaired. However, you saw the reality in Wojtek's restoration post
.Sandy and his pickelhaube.
It was supposed to be quick, easy and pleasant, but it turned out as usual.Pickelhaube for straightening and sewing.
www.pickelhaubes.com
.Nevertheless, I won’t deal with the eBay seller “aisne1914” again. When I confronted him with the reality, he told me that the helmet was 150 years old and that some previous tinkering with glue is quite normal. He didn't answer my question, why he didn't at least describe it properly? He should have noticed the torn seams. I hoped to catch him on his honor, but after his first evasive answer, he didn't answer anymore.
However, now back to the helmet....The fittings and other mounting parts all look good to me and look matching. The front visor has only been shrunk very slightly and the chinscales have the perfect length.
The liner in the old officers' style made of finest Saffiano leather has 13 square-cut flaps and shows that it‘s a property helmet. This is also the reason why I assign it to an NCO without Portepee (because of the enlisted men's cockade).
Unfortunately, there are no stamps on a property helmet, unless it was bought from the magazine. However, a name was once noted on the inside, but it is quite faded and I was unfortunately unable to decipher it.
Inside, square nuts without bows were used to attach the cross fitting, which also indicates a property helmet. The square nuts are thicker and show clear signs from the punching process, which makes them a good match to the period and differentiates them from later square nuts. These were flatter and already fairly standardized.
The helmet has the following dimensions:
Unfortunately, there are no stamps on a property helmet, unless it was bought from the magazine. However, a name was once noted on the inside, but it is quite faded and I was unfortunately unable to decipher it.
Inside, square nuts without bows were used to attach the cross fitting, which also indicates a property helmet. The square nuts are thicker and show clear signs from the punching process, which makes them a good match to the period and differentiates them from later square nuts. These were flatter and already fairly standardized.
- Helmet height (incl. spike): 22.0 cm
- Height helmet shell: 10.5 cm
It is rather flat for an M1860, which suggests that it is a later helmet. At 10.5 cm, the height of the shell would be more suitable for an M1871 or M1887. But this once again shows the differences between enlisted men's and officers' helmets, which became more visible from 1860 onwards. Those who procured their own helmets simply had more freedom and the helmets were sometimes more in line with current fashion.
The helmet eagle, which should actually sit on the seam of the front visor, actually sits far too low. But the owner was probably more concerned that it should have a reasonable distance to the fitting at the top and not extend over this.
The helmet eagle, which should actually sit on the seam of the front visor, actually sits far too low. But the owner was probably more concerned that it should have a reasonable distance to the fitting at the top and not extend over this.
- Spike height (incl. fitting): 9.5 cm
- Helmet eagle height: 11.4 cm
- Wide rear visor: 3.9 cm
- Wide front visor: 4.1 cm
- Diam. cockade: 6.5 cm
Also the cockade diameter indicates a later helmet. On some M1860s we can find cockades with a diameter of only 60 - 65 mm, but the cockade diameter normally wasn't reduced to 65 mm until the introduction of the M1867.
- Rosette diameter: 2.1 cm
- Wide chinscales: 2.1 / 1.1 cm
It is similar with rosettes and chinscales, because those for enlisted men of a M1860 should be more like 2.5 cm wide. However, since the chinscales have the perfect length I don't think they were replaced. As already mentioned, deviations from the enlisted men's helmet are quite possible for a property helmet.
Finally, I assume that this helmet is original and was worn by a fashionable NCO in the late 1860‘s. The helmet and parts don't look like they were put together.
I hope you like it as much as I do and look forward to your comments Finally, I assume that this helmet is original and was worn by a fashionable NCO in the late 1860‘s. The helmet and parts don't look like they were put together.
