Officer pickelhaube 92Rgt Brunswick

[coert65]

Hi Gary, I fully understand your opinion on this, but you know, I feel, and see it just like Amy does. I have no knowledge about these Brunswick helmets, so I didn't react. I do love them, but these are just too expensive for a working guy like me. And so I collect M15 and M95 enlisted helmets, from the lesser expensive states. Also, do keep posting here will you? As I am very interested in your other helmets, and, please do not feel to annoyed at people commenting on them, they mean it good, and just post their opinions about them. You do not have defend a thing here you know. We are all collectors, I learned a lot here when I just started, some were not what I expected, some of my helmets, when I started here were in fact put together ones, or just fakes. Well, I learned from that, and just kept on going. And after a lot of years, I still keep on learning, as nobody has all the knowledge. All in all, do not feel attacked by any of us here. Not 1 member here has that in mind you know.
Best regards, Coert.

 

[Gary Larson]

You asked for an opinion and when one is given all you do is talk about the reputable dealers you buy from, guarantees and Walter Heartman whoever he is. The only opinions you want are those that align with your opinion and for that reason I am out. I would strongly advise you speak with Tony one of the foremost TK experts on the planet. Enjoy your collecting.

Walter Heartman was one of the largest collectors of Pickelhaubes back in the early 1950s He is well known just ask around and Im sure tony will be able to tell you who he was, Im not opposed to your opinion, I just have my Opinion and no hard feelings its only Opinions and if Im wrong Im sorry but lets see what Tony might say, Thank you

 

[Gary Larson]

Hi Gary, I fully understand your opinion on this, but you know, I feel, and see it just like Amy does. I have no knowledge about these Brunswick helmets, so I didn't react. I do love them, but these are just too expensive for a working guy like me. And so I collect M15 and M95 enlisted helmets, from the lesser expensive states. Also, do keep posting here will you? As I am very interested in your other helmets, and, please do not feel to annoyed at people commenting on them, they mean it good, and just post their opinions about them. You do not have defend a thing here you know. We are all collectors, I learned a lot here when I just started, some were not what I expected, some of my helmets, when I started here were in fact put together ones, or just fakes. Well, I learned from that, and just kept on going. And after a lot of years, I still keep on learning, as nobody has all the knowledge. All in all, do not feel attacked by any of us here. Not 1 member here has that in mind you know.
Best regards, Coert.

I thank Coert personally for your well stated Opinion, I truly seems like I met a friend and its all good here. We all can learn something. I will share more pictures for the viewing thank you

 

[Gary Larson]

Hi Coert heres a few Helmets from my collection as you requested, I hope you like them, Thanks

 

[coert65]

Hi Coert heres a few Helmets from my collection as you requested, I hope you like them, Thanks

They are great! Is there a regimental marking on the one with the Waterloo bandeau? I have an other ranks IR74 M95 in my collection. One of the 5 regiments which had the Waterloo bandeau. (I know officers helmet usually have no regimental stamps, as they were private purchased)

 

[Tony without Kaiser]

They are great! Is there a regimental marking on the one with the Waterloo bandeau? I have an other ranks IR74 M95 in my collection. One of the 5 regiments which had the Waterloo bandeau. (I know officers helmet usually have no regimental stamps, as they were private purchased)

Not usually, never should there be stampings. With that spike there should nothing inside but sweat stains.

 

[Lars13]

Hi Gary,
Thank you for showing.

look at these great RJ Markings

The markings do not look original to me, all the same size and font, not what I have seen on my own helmets.
I'm sorry that not all responses / opinions are what you would like to hear, but it's up to you to decide whether your item is original or not based on the information you trust.
Regards,
Lars

 

[911car]

Walter Heartman was one of the largest collectors of Pickelhaubes back in the early 1950s He is well known just ask around and Im sure tony will be able to tell you who he was, Im not opposed to your opinion, I just have my Opinion and no hard feelings its only Opinions and if Im wrong Im sorry but lets see what Tony might say, Thank you

Gary,
His name was actually Walter E. Hartmann, from Anaheim, CA. As a US military, he participated in Germany occupation after WWII, where he amassed most of his extraordinary collection of pristine officer helmets. Those were kept under sorts of glass bells, like plants.
One can see pictures of some of his helmets in Didier Laine's book "L'Armee Allemande in 1914".

 

[Gary Larson]

Hi Gary,
Thank you for showing.

The markings do not look original to me, all the same size and font, not what I have seen on my own helmets.
I'm sorry that not all responses / opinions are what you would like to hear, but it's up to you to decide whether your item is original or not based on the information you trust.
Regards,
Lars

The stampings are correct and I have paperwork to verify that when I purchased it their were 2 helmets one was marked other one was not. and the marks were questioned upon sale and was sold from a pickelhaube auction in France I had been given proof of markings to be correct if you need or would like to see it I can get you a picture of that, let me know?

 

[Gary Larson]

Gary,
His name was actually Walter E. Hartmann, from Anaheim, CA.

Yes that is walter Im talking about, The brunswick helmet with the odd ball TK with the widened out skull and crossbones came from his collection and was bought by a dealer from him way back so Im not even sure its even possible to be repop TK never were not reopped until way later than its purchase. Thats why its hard to think its possibly fake just my Opinion you all have your own idea of real or fake just sharing information with you in case of know one wants to here where it came from. I dont think any repop Tk skulls were made until late 60s I could be wrong

 

[Gary Larson]

Hi Gary,
Thank you for showing.

The markings do not look original to me, all the same size and font, not what I have seen on my own helmets.
I'm sorry that not all responses / opinions are what you would like to hear, but it's up to you to decide whether your item is original or not based on the information you trust.
Regards,
Lars

Hi Lars, I have taking a picture of some of my documents I have as proof of marks I have more written proof this might help you decide on it but look at the helmet it a real Brunswick even if you might not like the marks the helmet is good and been verified, I hope this helps you on your not liking but it is marked way different but doesn't mean its not good

 

[Gary Larson]

They are great! Is there a regimental marking on the one with the Waterloo bandeau? I have an other ranks IR74 M95 in my collection. One of the 5 regiments which had the Waterloo bandeau. (I know officers helmet usually have no regimental stamps, as they were private purchased)

Hi my waterloo helmet has no RJ marks as it is a Reserve Officer what I was told is way rarer because their were less of them and this one is named, Do you like it? This might be something I might sell down the road, Let me know if your interested in it? Thanks

 

[Gary Larson]

Hi to everyone who might like this picture is of My Brunswick Helmet with the Enameled Running horse here are the shoulder epilates that are for meyer, I hope you like the photo

 

[Lars13]

I have taking a picture of some of my documents I have as proof of marks I have more written proof this might help you decide on it but look at the helmet it a real Brunswick even if you might not like the marks the helmet is good and been verified, I hope this helps you on your not liking but it is marked way different but doesn't mean its not good

Hi Gary,
According to your documentation the marking should be L.I.R. 74 (Landwehr Infanterie Regiment 74), not R.I.R. 74 (Reserve Infanterie Regiment 74).
Regards,
Lars

 

[Gary Larson]

HI lars, Look at it the 3rd battalion is Brunswick that is marked besides the 74 just to let you know from what I was told, thanks for the info

 

[Tony without Kaiser]

Unfortunately the Braunschweig officer helmets you are asking for opinion on, have reproduction Totenkopf on them.

It seems that other members here are trying to be nice, polite, and kind. Fortunately for me that is not my policy.

You are defending your helmets/items after negative opinions. Fair enough. We’ve probably all done that, I’ve been burned on German items myself. But eventually the awful realization comes that some of your your items are copies. Your TK IR92 helmets have been tampered with. “Upgraded”. If you ask for opinions here, you will get honest opinions from highly experienced eyes. Looking not at what is correct, but what is wrong.

Your Totenkopf are wrong. Not good copies, they are blatant poorly made copies. So are the”100% original” dealer or auction photos you have shown. It is unfortunate for you, but these are the opinions you requested. On this thread several here have generously shown perfect originals. Personally I feel the originals posted on this thread are sadly wasted on an “is this real” thread.

As it’s been mentioned, a story is dead as soon as it leaves one person to the next. Doesn’t matter if a helmet was taken to the moon by Apollo 11. The story does not turn a copy into an original. Stories can be interesting, but they do not matter. Same for “comes from an old collection”. Many a tampered with helmet with fake parts have appeared from an “old collection”. Even the so-called “Veteran” acquisitions can be questionable. Many IR92 helmets have been made after 1919 as 911car has shown.

Researching takes effort. Before I purchase black WWII insignia, I do serious investigation. Far too much money to “hope it is correct”. I suggest you do a search here on Braunschweig for research.

If your officer Totenkopf are not EXACTLY what highly experienced collectors, such as 911car, Zebedeus, KAGG#1, Doug B, and others have kindly shared on this forum, then your TK are not correct. There are not “variations” which is an oft used “excuse”.

Now you are faced with begrudgingly accepting these opinions, or go from forum to forum until someone approves.

Welcome to the P. Forum. Tony

 

[b.loree]

As the administrator of this forum, I would like to thank Tony for finally clearly stating the obvious conclusion to this thread. Tony and the other senior collectors he cited have true originals in their collections. It is not easy to accept that one has been taken advantage of, but many of us have suffered through this realization. However, you have to accept reality in the end.

 

[Steve Nick]

I couldn’t resist providing my perspective on the “it came out of an old collection so it must be good” claim.

Back in the late 80’s when I was co-running the Ottawa Militaria Show myself and a Montreal collector were undoubtedly the most recognized pickelhaube collectors at the shows. One day a fellow I’ll call Andy from the Montréal area showed up carrying a paper shopping bag stuffed full of the most exotic pickelhaubes in one group we had ever seen. They were stacked on top of each other, and he started pulling them out of the bag. All pre-war pieces, Anhalt, Reuss, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Schaumberg-Lippe, Schwartzberg-Rudolstadt. etc.

We were gobsmacked. Where in earth did you find these we asked. Turned out that Andy had been collecting since the late 50’s and had bought all his pieces (probably over a hundred) from a dealer in the New England area.

There was an issue, however. Andy had no idea what he was doing. He knew next to nothing about Imperial Germany and less about any dress regulations. He was a professional musician and he just loved the look of the helmets. When we started examining them, we found that almost all the parts were mismatched or simply had no business being on the helmet. Andy liked to make the helmets look more attractive on the shelf by taking a part from one and putting it on another helmet.

Even when we told him “that Wappen doesn’t belong on that helmet” he didn’t care. In his mind it looked better with the incorrect Wappen so it would stay that way.

He even had a jeweller make up parts if he thought the part would look good on another helmet. He gave me a few of these jeweller made silver items such as the Oldenburg arms, the silver centre piece from Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. They remain in the “parts drawer” as a memento.

Over the next few years, we would wait with bated breath for Andy to make his appearance at the Ottawa shows. Always with the paper shopping bag, always full of helmets stacked on top of each other in spite of our pleas to stop treating his helmets so casually.

One year Andy didn’t show up. We never saw him again. Doubtless his collection has long been disbursed as he was considerably older than we were.

The “take away from this tale in my experience is “it came from an old collection” is a warning to be extra vigilant. In the 1950’s and 60’s there were virtually zero English language references in existence. Most collectors relative to the knowledge base that exists now had no idea what they were dealing with.

 

[Gary Larson]

Hi Back to a new discussion, I took the front plate off my other Brunswick it looks to had a repair but from what Im learning it doesnt look casted I may be wrong let me know what you think ggod or Bad I wont argue with anyone

 

[911car]

I couldn’t resist providing my perspective on the “it came out of an old collection so it must be good” claim.

Nick, this is interesting, if not reassuring. It echoes what Jean-Louis Larcade wrote in his famous book "Casques a pointe...". Collecting pioneers he met in the 60's and 70's would commonly swap plates to "create" a rare helmet they were missing. No intent then to deceive or rip off though...