A Rare Visor Hat "Accessory"--Help Needed with Maker

[stonemint]

This is in the possession of an advanced collector friend of mine. It was originally brought back by the returning US vet to ship his personal items home in.

However, it is it's original use which is most significant. This was the original box used to ship ten (10) schirmmuetzen in to the Heeresbekleidungsamt in Braunschweig (Brunswick) via Rail (Reichsbahn) in 1942. Most probably, the box contained contract caps, all with the Braunschweig Hussar skull.

I cannot recall this maker, but apparently it was located in Neutitschein, which was in the Sudetenland and was incorporated into the Reich in 1938 (it is now part of the Czech Republic).

The makers name is worn off the shipping label, but the initials are JHS. Does anyone have a hat marked by this maker, and/or know who the maker is?

[stonemint]

The initials on the side, indicating 10 hats, all size 56.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[stonemint]

Well, just doing a little research, they did make Tropical Pith Helmets:

[Kreager]

Sorry, was going to mention I had a pith with this maker marking, but I guess I don't have too. Sorry

[billbert]

Isnt that Joseph Heirtiess und Sohne ??(might be a letter or 2 off on spelling)..Billbert

[JackHun]

All I can help is: "Haar - und Wollhutwerke" translates to "hair and woolen hat/cap factory"

Jack

[stonemint]

Isnt that Joseph Heirtiess und Sohne ??(might be a letter or 2 off on spelling)..Billbert

Good guess, but Hierteis was out of Furth. I also now believe this was used to ship the Tropenhelm made by JHS. I am surprised none of the DAK collectors have piped in on this....

[JackHun]

I think: "Johann Hückel und Söhne". Haar was rabbit hair. After the war the factory was confiscated by the state and renamed Tonak.

Jack

[stonemint]

I think: "Johann Hückel und Söhne". Haar was rabbit hair. After the war the factory was confiscated by the state and renamed Tonak.

Jack

Jack, you solved the mystery! Huckel was the premier Fedora maker in the world before the war. This further confirms that the box most likely held Tropenhelmen made of felt, which they produced in large quantities.
The communists did take over their factory at the end of the war, and it is now called Tonak.

Here is the Muetzenfabrikation before the war:

[Bond]

Very nice!

What a great item and wonderful detective work. A box full of 2nd pattern piths, a shame its empty.

JerryB

[Bob Lyons]

A shame that Ken N., missed this when he was doing his new helmet book for Benders, with the chapter on Pith Helmets.

Bob

[Colorado]

Bringing this thread up. I recently obtained this Huekel promotional pocket mirror from a WWII Vet family.

The Vet is still alive, but unfortunately suffers from Alzheimers now. The son said his father told him a German soldier no longer needed the mirror and he took it for his own use.

Huckel was quite famous and their headwear is collectible. They were known for well-made fedoras before the war. There is also another thread of famous actors wearing Hueckel fedoras. See link below:

http://germanaustrianhats.invisionzo...brik-weilheim/

[Dennis J]

Back in the early 60's you could buy a box of the 2nd mod. sun helmet in size 55 and up in these boxes with the same markings as above from Atwood and George Peterson and another guy in Calif out of the Shot Gun News very cheap.I use to own an unopen box of these helmets in size 56.They were every where at the gun shows.

Dennis J

[stonemint]

Back in the early 60's you could buy a box of the 2nd mod. sun helmet in size 55 and up in these boxes with the same markings as above from Atwood and George Peterson and another guy in Calif out of the Shot Gun News very cheap.I use to own an unopen box of these helmets in size 56.They were every where at the gun shows.

Dennis J

Weren't they all the felt ones? I don't recall any of the horde finds to be the canvas & cork models.

[Silesien]

Yes they were all the 2d Models. And @ Hohenzollernstrasse 11 in Munich, Dr. Breuer's wife Wilma in April 1971, still had 100's of these stacked from the floor to the ceiling, unissued & all fully complete, in their underground former air-raid bunker warehouse, @ $15 each. I have an older list of his where they were only $4.50 each.