My Poor Little Pickelhaub!

[Peter_Suciu]

Cockade, chinstrap and what else?

Who has and how much would it take?

Curiosity right now, but seriously considering!

Seriously for display I'd just add a strap and the cockades and put it on the shelf. Don't worry about "fixing" up anything else.

Check out Age of Kings:
http://ageofkingsmilitaria.com/

They have good quality straps and cockades. I think you're looking at less than $100.

[jamesmccann]

M15

Yes i have an m15 also that was in similar condition.your s has the front peak metal where mine dosnt.I think on balance it would be better for spares,but like mine its easily restorable.Theres a picklehaube site that actually restores them ,and at the moment they have an m15 broken down and beutifuly restored.(pickelhaubes.com)Good luck James/IRELAND

[leigh kitchen]

There seems little reason to me to break this lid down for spares, it's acceptable as it is & better than destroying an original item to pretty up other pieces.

This lid looks interesting to me in that it's already been used as a bits helmet in a sense - it looks like it had a cruciform spike base which was removed, the stud holes plugged with painted studs & a spike with circular base stuck on top.
Hence also the additional holes for the helmet plate.
Does'nt add to the value I suppose, but if it's period done then I like it & would like to own it as it is, no messing about with it.

There was a bloke called Brian Maddox (I think) years ago who was an apparent "expert" on pickelhaube, & from the articles he wrote never happier than when ripping the things apart, resewing them, rubbing them down with sandpaper & repainting the fittings & cockades - can't leave be, gotta have it looking like new.
I'm buggered if I'd wreck it by getting the whole thing ruined by doing it up.

I was somewhat peeved when I bought one with a bullet hole through it & found that some twit had repaired it using car body filler - at least all I had to do was pop the body filler plugs out with my thumbs & no harm done, but Gordon Bennet.........

[Paul B]

Leigh

The "restorer" in question was Graham Maddocks, a Liverpool based author who co-wrote a book on the WWI German Army in the 70s, and also wrote a couple of articles for "The Armourer" in which he detailed his picklehaube restoration techniques. I believe he died fairly recently.

To me cleaning and preserving is fine (like the processes detailed on Tony Schnurr's website) -as to repainting plates and cockades, then I'm 100% in agreement with you however.

All the best

Paul.

[leigh kitchen]

Yep, that's the bloke there was a short lived publication called "Photowar" at the end of the '60s, beginning of the '70s, think that's where I first read one of his articles on restoration of pickelhauben..
I was okay with his making repro cockades by cutting up the lids of jars of baby food, but all that ripping apart & sticking back together again........

Cleaning & preserving is great, too much messing about & it's just vandalism for the sake of something that looks pretty.

[Jean-Loup]

I agree, Pickelhaubs seem to attract the kinds of collectors who absolutely have to have everything shiny and like new. Very sad... What is considered unacceptable for WW2 german helmets seems to be common practis with Pickelhaubs.

Leigh, can you post a pic of the bullet holes one, sounds interesting.
JL

[jamesmccann]

Leigh

The "restorer" in question was Graham Maddocks, a Liverpool based author who co-wrote a book on the WWI German Army in the 70s, and also wrote a couple of articles for "The Armourer" in which he detailed his picklehaube restoration techniques. I believe he died fairly recently.

To me cleaning and preserving is fine (like the processes detailed on Tony Schnurr's website) -as to repainting plates and cockades, then I'm 100% in agreement with you however.

All the best

Paul.

I actually sold in the past a Bavarian pickelhaube to Graham Maddoxs, and if true he has passed ,that saddens me as i found him to be a gentleman to deal with ,James/IRELAND.

[leigh kitchen]

.....
Leigh, can you post a pic of the bullet holes one, sounds interesting.
JL

Yes, will do.