M16 camo W66

[Adler 1]

Since there is at the moment a camo-discussion going on, it might be a nice interludium to see another one for a change...
This is a rather hard to find W66... Hermann Weissenburger & Co., Stuttgart-Cannstatt, size 66. The camo is a not so common pattern...
This helmet was found with a replacement drawstring (just a thin cord) and I left is as it was. There was no chinstrap present, so I completed the helmet with an original chinstrap...
The writing on the neckguard is hard to decifre... Anyone has a clue?

Adler

[nzef1940]

Very nice original examples note the first helmet has its lug ventilation holes filled. I have one like this with the lugs filled with felt. I have always wondered why this was done, have heard explanations ranging from to keep the cold out, to stop them whistling in the wind, who knows!

Excellent helmets, thanks for sharing.

[PlaceOfBayonets]

Very nice original examples note the first helmet has its lug ventilation holes filled. I have one like this with the lugs filled with felt. I have always wondered why this was done, have heard explanations ranging from to keep the cold out, to stop them whistling in the wind, who knows!

Excellent helmets, thanks for sharing.

The Whistling in the wind was the main reason. You heard right. I can tell you from wearing one in the cold weather for hours on end that the inside of the helmets gets very wet from the perspiration coming off one's head. The Vents were never enough and I doubt much cold could be kept out that way.

Oh nice helmet Adler!

W.

[C. Roelens]

Another excellent example from your advanced collection Adler1. Thanks for showing it.

Did you remove the plug from the right vent, or did it not have one when you received it?

Chuck

[C. Roelens]

Very nice original examples note the first helmet has its lug ventilation holes filled. I have one like this with the lugs filled with felt. I have always wondered why this was done, have heard explanations ranging from to keep the cold out, to stop them whistling in the wind, who knows!

Excellent helmets, thanks for sharing.

Sir, it's one helmet. The left side has the vent plugged, and the right doesn't. The left side also doesn't have the black divider line painted around the top as the right side does.

Chuck

[Adler 1]

Thank you for your replies gentlemen!

Did you remove the plug from the right vent, or did it not have one when you received it?

There was no plug in the right vent when I purhased the helmet Chuck...
and it's indeed 1 helmet...

Adler 1

[Chip M]

To me the penciling looks like "Kober 11 L 135".

Chip
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[ShedHunter]

Nice looking Helmet!! Great color.

Tony

[C. Roelens]

To me the penciling looks like "Kober 11 L 135".

Chip
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I would say, you're pretty darn close Chip... either 135 or 185? Are you up to speed on WWI German Unit designations? I'm not, so I have to ask.

Chuck

[90th Light]

I would say, you're pretty darn close Chip... either 135 or 185? Are you up to speed on WWI German Unit designations? I'm not, so I have to ask.

Chuck

Its not 185, on my one it is written "11/ 125" or "11/ 135" which means 11th company of regiment 125 or 135. What I think appears to be a gothic "L" is infact a sutten ? "C" for company which makes sense.

For this to be 11 L 135 it would have to apply to a "Lehr" unit or a "Leib" regiment which does not apply to R125 or R135.

Will go back and find my notes I made at the time I got this helmet from the NZ vet and find the shoulder boards that came with it. Taken in a trench raid.

This is a very early camo pattern indeed and was nick-named the "Key-hole" by the New Zealand soldiers at the time.

Anyway have asked ebony to post some images for all to see.

Thanks for posting yours Adler1, hope you enjoy seeing mine,

Chris

[ebony]

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