Police Helmet?

[Fred Borgmann]

I just bought a spiked helmet that I think is police circa 1900. It looks like a customs official with the small ball tippped fluted spike on a round base but on the center of the eagles breast is what looks like a small Brandenburg coat of arms. Since all the experts are here I hope some one can point me in the right direction. Thanks, Fred

[Fred Borgmann]

I just bought a spiked helmet that I think is police circa 1900. It looks like a customs official with the small ball tippped fluted spike on a round base but on the center of the eagles breast is what looks like a small Brandenburg coat of arms. Since all the experts are here I hope some one can point me in the right direction. Thanks, Fred

Here is a scan of the eagle

[Fred Borgmann]

Here is a scan of the eagle

Closer study with a magnifing glass shows the center shield to be divided in to 4 sections with the center divider strong thus it must be the Hohenzollern arms and a regular post 1888 eagle.

[JoeW]

I believe most of your police headgear of the pre-WWI period would have plates reflecting the arms of the respective kingdoms, principalities or city states. This Imperial eagle would probably be most suitable on a helmet of the Reichs-Gendarmerie of Alsass-Lothringen. Can you provide an image of the entire helmet? I will verify by checking Radecke's volume I of German police insignia.

[Fred Borgmann]

Thanks Joe, I don't have a camera but the scans turned out better than I expected.