Bob Hudson Posted November 5, 2018 Share #1 Posted November 5, 2018 A lady who responded to my newspaper ad said on the phone it was something her father brought back from WWII. She kept mentioning the poor condition of the leather, but I've seen plenty of German helmets with no suspension so that wasn't a deal breaker. I drove an hour to her home in the country and when I follow her to th kitchen, this is spread out on the counter in pieces: broken pieces, rock hard distorted leather, rusted broken chin strap scales, dented spike, missing hardware, etc. I gave her $25 and she was amazed I'd pay that much. Here's what it looked like when I go it home: this is only angle where it doesn't look thrashed (note the loose visor). This is the worst side showing the leather frozen into a distorted shape. If you tried to bend it, it would break. One visor was missing. The leather shell almost looks normal from this angle. Here's the chinstrap pieces: They look better from this side: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted November 5, 2018 Author Share #2 Posted November 5, 2018 The spike hardware: This is what's left of the cockades: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted November 5, 2018 Author Share #3 Posted November 5, 2018 I decided to see if I could make back my $25 (and gas money) by selling these thrashed parts on ebay. The rockhard crushed leather shell was tossed in the trash, the others listed. I was amazed: buyers snapped it up. In each listing I showed the photo of the shell with the parts on it, so buyers could see what it all came from. One guy messaged me and asked if the shell was for sale! It was still in my studio trash can: I told him it was trash, but he still offered $35 for it. All total I think the parted-out pickelhaube grossed almost $300. I never would have imagined. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted November 5, 2018 Share #4 Posted November 5, 2018 Pretty nifty, though the "State" is Sachsen, Their State colored Korkade ist Grun-Weiss. https://oldthing.de/Seltene-Original-Pickelhaube-Sachsen-Infanterie-Regiment-103-Bautzen-108402-0030681717 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted November 5, 2018 Author Share #5 Posted November 5, 2018 Pretty nifty, though the "State" is Sachsen, Their State colored Korkade ist Grun-Weiss. Thanks - it looks better assembled. I hope some of those pieces helped on a restoration. I still wonder what they guy was going to do with the shell I pulled out of the trash? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted November 5, 2018 Share #6 Posted November 5, 2018 Thanks - it looks better assembled. I hope some of those pieces helped on a restoration. I still wonder what they guy was going to do with the shell I pulled out of the trash? I dunno, he might try to reshape it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratasfan Posted November 5, 2018 Share #7 Posted November 5, 2018 Amazing story! I love reselling! Brilliant job! Actually, what really shocked me (and Mom and Sis, too) was that the helmet is leather! I never knew that! They were probably more comfortable than we thought! Certainly not as heavy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted November 5, 2018 Author Share #8 Posted November 5, 2018 I dunno, he might try to reshape it. Can you do that with leather that's dried up and hard? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugme Posted November 5, 2018 Share #9 Posted November 5, 2018 Yeah, I found a similar one and sold the parts. To say I was shocked by what I got for the parts, would be an understatement. Lol! Great find! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted November 5, 2018 Share #10 Posted November 5, 2018 Can you do that with leather that's dried up and hard? Wouldn't think so right, so there's got to be a method to his madness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted November 5, 2018 Share #11 Posted November 5, 2018 Amazing story! I love reselling! Brilliant job! Actually, what really shocked me (and Mom and Sis, too) was that the helmet is leather! I never knew that! They were probably more comfortable than we thought! Certainly not as heavy! Some war time helmets were made out of pressed woo/felt too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted November 5, 2018 Author Share #12 Posted November 5, 2018 Pretty nifty, though the "State" is Sachsen, My 5th great grandfather was from Hesse state and drafted into His Majesty's Service in the American rebellion. I'm used to people calling all such troops, "Hessians" regardless of where they actually came from. Hessian and Prussian seem to have become generic terms for German armies of certain periods - I know it makes easier for lazy people like me who could never remember the other states, let alone their unit marks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Jerry Posted November 7, 2018 Share #13 Posted November 7, 2018 D'oh! We just picked up an early Tshapka from the same era missing chinscales and cocade... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mons1914 Posted November 11, 2018 Share #14 Posted November 11, 2018 Amazing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponyradish Posted December 1, 2018 Share #15 Posted December 1, 2018 Nice to see all the parts utilized like that.Pony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunmore1774 Posted December 8, 2018 Share #16 Posted December 8, 2018 I know when I've needed a part for a pickelhaube, they dont come cheap ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS3rd Posted December 15, 2018 Share #17 Posted December 15, 2018 I always try to pick up parts, cheap, as they are good for trading. Regards, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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