Officer helmet Wartime Pioneer

Amybellars

Well-known member
Hi guys,
Bought a helmet off ebay from one of our forum members. From the ebay pics, I do see some flaws and was happy to win it cheap.
The helmet arrived yesterday and as a collector, we would have known the basics and would have described some "unseen" flaws in our description when we are selling, however this was not the case.

The haube was a M15 enlisted man body stitched up with officer's front and rear visors to make it seem proper. The shell body has been caved inwards and has been restored (this part was shown on ebay pics) but what was surprising was the M91 side post marks left on the helmet body deliberately covered up by the rosettes.

Rear spine was a home made piece of metal, weight and patina were not right,

State cockade, not "officer" officer as well and the rosettes have been put in recently so I guess the seller should have described the cockade and the remains of the M91 sideposts holes and marks.

The saving grace was the leather sweatband with silk canvas and the star fasteners which I am happy with.

The plate and the chinscales were once painted gold (which I think that it is done during wartime but the gold paint was stripped off to make it looks pioneer and now it looks hmmm...."ugly".

Enough of saying, I bought it for parts and so now they are all in parts :-? . But I urge the forum member to be more precise when you are describing your helmets and I guess 80-90% of haubes collectors are on this forum, so it pays to describe the merchandise to the best of your knowledge.
 

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The M91 sidepost marks
 

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Is it possible that the seller described it as they saw it, but didn't have the sharp eye you do? Look like you got some pretty good parts though.

:D Ron
 
Ron, no seller did not describe it. I have the link still.
I knew that the shell has been restored from the pics and seller mentioned all authentic which I do not disagree with. Put for god sake inform buyer that visors have been stitched on and the m91 side posts were once there.
Yes I am happy that I have all the parts lol the most impt officer liner and stars were all good.
 
Sad to hear that didn't work out for you. I'd have returned it if it was that far out of what I was hoping to get. The officer stars are nice to have though. My luck is I'd have a stash of silver and need gold ones.


Ron
 
Well I got the helmet cheap and I know the seller is on need of cash to pay bills, he is brave to admit it.
I would still have bought it if an flaws listed. Now its good parts as you can see I have already tore up all the parts.
It's so fast to take apart everything and poor Brian usually put them back together. Lol
 
Yes Amy, I do try and put them back together but like you, I also buy parts which can be used on hauben that are less beaten up and deserve restoration. :D
 
Brain. It takes 20 mins to pull everything apart and it takes more than two hours to put everything back lol
 
In my opinion the rear spine is an original zinc wartime production that has lost its plating, and the body looks like its OK too- remember that not all officer's shells have a sewn seam! Many wartime officer's helmets also used M-91 posts with special chin scales. From the pics, I'd say that the body, visors, and lining all went together originally...
 
Hi Arran,
Yes I do agree with you that officers helmets do make use of the enlisted body with the M91 side posts. The front and rear visors are original but not the stitching.
The seller place the officer rosettes to cover the M91 side posts as the prongs of the rosettes were not even properly split up 😊
Actually, as I was looking at it for parts, I would still have bought it even if the flaws are listed. However, seller decided not to disclose and I just want to warn buyers to be ware.
Trust me, the rear spine is not original. It's a home made reproduction. I did not mention how poorly the officer Spike was reproduced too. 😅
 
Not the first time Amy, that the spelling of my name has been changed to Brain..... :D. Not to worry.
 
Yes, I take a lot of abuse from James at the SOS but I try and give as good as I get..... it is all in good fun. :thumb up:
 
I am the seller.
It was the first Off helmet that I purchased
I did not take it apart to see the mysteries behind the parts.
I was afraid to do so because I thought it would come apart.
I described it as I saw it and started the price at $150 hoping to get at least that out or it.
 
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