Dated Stahlhelm membership badges

[Richard]

Don't really know if this is the right forum as these don't seem to fit in anywhere. Does anyone know if these badges were all one piece or if there were two piece badges issued that had the Stahlhelm attached to the round badge proper? If there were attached helmets, how were they attached and what were the earliest badges to have the attached helmet? Any help appreciated.
Richard V

[Rick Research]

Yes, the hollow stamped helmets were attached to the front of the black enamel disk. I've had many over the years that had obviously come off and been re-attached by the wearer, since the guide metal underneath didn't line up exactly any more.

I assume they were "sweated" on, which is weak... at least after 60+ years.

[VerKuilen Ager]

Some of them were riveted and you'll see it on the reverse. All the dates came out at the same time so there really isn't any "earliest." Der Stahlhof (the official Stahlhelm supplier) appears to have made a variety of grades of the badges for different pocketbooks, hence the differences.

All the originals had the helmet separate. If you run into a one-piece badge it's 99.99% likely to be a reproduction.

[Richard]

Thanks very much guys. Were these made only in silver and Nickel silver, or were there other base metals used? I have seen a 1924 badge that appears to have a brass or copper core where the silver coloring has begun to wear off.
Richard