My First Picklehaube.......

[Spanish Freiwillige]

Well, here is my first picklehaube, I got this one in 1988, and I was 11 years old. It was in the old fire department building in downtown Seattle. This building was turned into an antique shop. It was like something out of a Jack London novel, old brick building by the water front, wooden floor. I remember that in the basement there were several stores with militaria and prices that at the time I couldn’t afford, yet on the top floor there was another shop, that had a little bit of everything, from old dresses and carrousel horses to a stack of about 10 picklehaube. They were stack together some of them had already lost shape, rotten and in very poor condition.

I remember I was so young and didn’t have much knowledge and at the time I didn’t know it was so incomplete, all I did know was that it missed the spike. I also remember that some had some cockades on them, and the dealer offered to complete it using parts of some of the others, also offered me the cover, but was so eager to take my pickle and run….

That I paid no mind and just took it and rushed out of there.



It was in February 2009, when forum member BILL, gave me the spike as a present....



andnow...May 2011, that I managed to get the original cockades for it…… I´ll take some shots as soon as I receive them......

[Chip M]

Great story. It just goes to show that most members of this forum are willing to help. I know we all have parts boxes that we have held for years, hoping to find that cap, helmet, tunic, or whatever to use them on. For me, at least, I find myself more and more willing to let those items go to others that can immediately complete a piece, be it a new found item or some long held one. Perhaps we can start a pinned thread where members can place their want lists of the bits and pieces they need. I personally have a few odds and ends that have eluded me for decades. Maybe it's time to throw those things out there and see what happens?

Chip

[Spanish Freiwillige]

Great story. It just goes to show that most members of this forum are willing to help. I know we all have parts boxes that we have held for years, hoping to find that cap, helmet, tunic, or whatever to use them on. For me, at least, I find myself more and more willing to let those items go to others that can immediately complete a piece, be it a new found item or some long held one. Perhaps we can start a pinned thread where members can place their want lists of the bits and pieces they need. I personally have a few odds and ends that have eluded me for decades. Maybe it's time to throw those things out there and see what happens?

Chip

I completely agree, we all have some stuff that we acquire that is either not in our immediate plans or just ends in a drawer, I am very grateful to BILL who has helped me almost complete this item, now I am very eager to put the cockades, well what the heck it only took 23 years to complete....

[Spanish Freiwillige]

Here is my other one soon to be restored with original components......

[C. Roelens]

Great story. It just goes to show that most members of this forum are willing to help. I know we all have parts boxes that we have held for years, hoping to find that cap, helmet, tunic, or whatever to use them on. For me, at least, I find myself more and more willing to let those items go to others that can immediately complete a piece, be it a new found item or some long held one. Perhaps we can start a pinned thread where members can place their want lists of the bits and pieces they need. I personally have a few odds and ends that have eluded me for decades. Maybe it's time to throw those things out there and see what happens?

Chip

That's an excellent idea Chip. I've done it for years, and am currently working with a long time collector who is transitioning into WWI USMC headgear and uniforms.

Chuck

[Hoss]

Great story. It just goes to show that most members of this forum are willing to help. I know we all have parts boxes that we have held for years, hoping to find that cap, helmet, tunic, or whatever to use them on. For me, at least, I find myself more and more willing to let those items go to others that can immediately complete a piece, be it a new found item or some long held one. Perhaps we can start a pinned thread where members can place their want lists of the bits and pieces they need. I personally have a few odds and ends that have eluded me for decades. Maybe it's time to throw those things out there and see what happens?

Chip

Sounds like a plan Chip
I,ve a brass 07/10 button that needs a Tunic.

Eric

[Spanish Freiwillige]

ok update.....

we have cockades........

[Kengir]

Sharp! Glad to see her coming along!!

Cheers,
Jeremy D. Stephens

[Spanish Freiwillige]

and the cover.........









The period photo I based myself in to place the chinstrap over the cover.....