M36 DD Early Eagle Lightweight.

[BobI]

Hi Guys!
Well, the reason I am brining this thread back to life is this. I now own the M36 shown in the thread above. While I am unfortunately away from home and have not held it yet, my partner Jim has. Among some of you that I have spoken personally with, there has been question as to if this is a “lightweight” version. Jim has absolutely verified that this is indeed a very light para helmet! My hypothesis is that it was an experimental piece which turned out not to be sturdy enough to be abused in combat. I would imagine to an engineer who would also be a pioneer in sky diving history. A light helmet would be very desirable. A good example of the theory not being reality in its intended use.
I would love to hear any other hypothesis that anyone else may have in regard to this helmet.
Thanks!
Bob

[Anders L]

Yes it is very light,my daughter used it as a cornflakes bowl.....

Just kidding, i have some very nice photos of the helmet.
If there are something you want to see Bob, i can post it for you.
But it´s up to you, now the helmet is yours.

I have to say that this helmet is: / 5.

[Spanish Freiwillige]

Hallo to all members, i am no expert and this is probably a very known hypothesis, but the most likely explanation is that some lot of M36 were up datet with the new liner system and used either for training or supplied to front line troops, why waste prodcued helmets if they can be up dated and used.

[Gene]

Yes it is very light,my daughter used it as a cornflakes bowl.....

Just kidding, i have some very nice photos of the helmet.
If there are something you want to see Bob, i can post it for you.
But it´s up to you, now the helmet is yours.

I have to say that this helmet is: / 5.

Yeah yeah, nice helmet. . . but I love the T shirt!

[Mooyman]

Hey Anders,

You possue two great treasures!

Congratulations x 2 !!!!


Best regards,

Ricardo.

[Willi Z.]

Bob, glad you now have the helmet. When you get to handle it I would still like to know if it might be lighter than my M36. My M36 is very light but it is still made from steel. So, I am still intrigued about the aluminum construction.

[BobI]

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Hi Willi!
As soon as I get home I will give you my impressions of the helmet. I am in no rush to sell it so I will bring it along when we get together.
Jim has handled the helmet and is fairly confident that it is made from steel. It has oxidized, as steel should. Aluminum will rust under the proper conditions although I doubt that is the case here. But we will verify that in a couple of months.
Best Wishes,
Bob
PS- Anders, your daughter looks extremely happy to be holding this helmet!

[Anders L]

I must say that the M36 NEVER have been in my collection.
The helmet was from my friend Anders Skötte´s collection,that we have the same first name may course some misunderstanding.

I don´t think the helmet is of steel.
The helmet "flex" if you push it,and the crack would not look like that if it was steel.Then it should have cracked the whole way to the end...
(Hope you understand my bad description).

I think you will see when you have the helmet in your hands Bob.(and Willy)

[BobI]

Hey Anders and Willi!
Dave reminded me of something I really should have thought of. I asked Jim to test the magnetic quality of the shell. It sticks so is definitely steel, I guess they must have used high gauge steel in the machinery used to make M35s.
Anders, you did a great Job describing the helmet. I am really so amazed how well so many of you around the world speak English! I speak Spanish and truly understand how difficult it is to use a 2<SUP>nd</SUP> language at times.
Willi, I really look forward to comparing helmets with you!
Best Wishes,
Bob

[Willi Z.]

I just knew it had to be made from steel. Since these M36s are made from cut down M35s they are not as heavy or solid feeling as M38s. As the skirt was cut off the M35 you just have the top portion, which is much thinner and lighter. The aluminum comments just don't make sense in my opinion. Why would they have made a jump helmet, which is what these were designed for, from an aluminum parade style helmet when there were steel M35s in production?

Anders, even though my M36 is made from steel, the helmet flexes. I bet I could twist and disform the shell in my hands. It just does not have the support of a M38 because it is cut down from a M35.

A M36 made from steel will always be lighter in weight than a M38. And, as I just handled one of the few original M37s, I feel the same way about that style.

Bob, I look forward in getting together.

[langemarck]

you can find the alu fj helmet in "von stahlhelm zum gefechtshelm I" page 433!!

[Willi Z.]

you can find the alu fj helmet in "von stahlhelm zum gefechtshelm I" page 433!!

I have that book and I do not agree with the M36 being aluminum.

Bob's M36 is steel. My M36 is steel. The one on page 433 is Bob's, unless I am terribly mistaken. Where are the aluminum ones?

[Anders L]

If it is magnetic i have to surrender,then it is steel.
The helmet is fantastic

Hope to see a book with only FJ helmets from you experts..............

[Willi Z.]

Here is page 433 of Ludwig Baer's 1992 "Vom Stahlhelme zum Gefechtshelm". It is clearly the helmet Bob now has. Not taking anything away from Baer's great works.........he laid the foundation for helmet collectors. But, it is highly unlikely that he inspected many of the helmets presented in his books. Not taking a dig, it is just the reality of publishing books.