FJ Helmet on ebay what a stroke of luck.

[Tim R. B.]

FJ helmet on ebay item # 2182217545. How lucky is this guy
A friend of his is an architect who just happens to have done some work in the 60's at 'Mount Abbey Cassino' and guess what he only finds this chicken wire FJ helmet. Some guys have all the luck. Tim.

' Don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining' The Outlaw Josey Wales

[Willi Z.]

Well........ I wouldn't believe everything that gets said on ebay. We can discuss this helmet. Certainly the chinstraps have problems and are very questionable. Note the odd construction and the way the adjustment rings (on the photo of the liner) are shaped. Other comments are welcome.... I wouldn't touch that helmet.

Willihttp://cgi.aol.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI...ayphotohosting

[Jos L C]

The original chickenwire can still be found here in Europe at some old farms etc.

I do not like the painting,places were the paint came off don't have anything underneath...it only has one layer of paint IMO...
I've seen soooo many helmets here done this way or another...
it's a hell of a job to make the convincing fake...it's just...just...just not good enough for me,whatever the story...
Another thing is that the sell had some contact with water,the rust is only on the outside,I would expect some corrosion on the zink inner linerring,some more dried leather etc.

I know that occasionaly a good parahelmet is offered on Ebay...but I can't imagine that a original tropical desirable helmet makes his way to Ebay...it's the last station IMO..

Just a feeling..

Jos.

[Luftm40]

The interior is clean as a whistle too ...real FJs almost always have crud, dust and corrosion around the liner pads from my experience..I think the rubber, and deep crevices created by the pads make this a feature on most originals. Also, the pad rubber looks like that weird kind you see painted white on a lot of the Czech fakes. The shell paint color is odd to me too

[Tim R. B.]

Really i wouldn't touch this helmet, with the little knowledge i have on FJ helmets it looks wrong. The angle the photograph has been taken doesn't give a true view of the shape of the helmet. The ageing of the helmet doesn't ring true, the paint is too bright for its condition and the condition of the chicken wire. The rust seems to be coming from underneath the paint which points to a chemical ageing process favoured by the Czecks.
The seller has spun that tall tale, it's private bidders auction and he has a repro FJ liner for sale and it is coming out of Italy.
Willi if you get time could you give your thoughts on the FJ helemt on Regimentals, i posted a thread earlier this week. Regards Tim.

[WalterB]

Commenting on the auction only, the helmet comes from Camp Bisenzio and it involves a Private Auction. These two facts should raise the alarm level a notch or two.

[Colorado]

I did not hear anything about the shell itself. It appears to be an origianal ET68 shell. I vote rework.

Just curious as I am learning. It has a green paint job on the inside of the helmet (which looks wrong colored not smooth). Wouldn't one associate that with a later model? If that is so, wouldn't it be more likely have unvented slots and a rough texture paint finish that would be evident even with camo over the top? At the points where the paint is chipped (eaten) away, would not one be able to see evidence of that?

[Willi Z.]

It could be an original shell. Impossible to tell from those photos. But, really a moot point. That same seller is selling a Heer helmet with the EXACT color of camo, the same wire and the same rust wear at the same time on ebay. Being discussed in the helmet section.

Willi

[Jager]

The original chickenwire can still be found here in Europe at some old farms etc.

I do not like the painting,places were the paint came off don't have anything underneath...it only has one layer of paint IMO...
I've seen soooo many helmets here done this way or another...
it's a hell of a job to make the convincing fake...it's just...just...just not good enough for me,whatever the story...
Another thing is that the sell had some contact with water,the rust is only on the outside,I would expect some corrosion on the zink inner linerring,some more dried leather etc.

I know that occasionaly a good parahelmet is offered on Ebay...but I can't imagine that a original tropical desirable helmet makes his way to Ebay...it's the last station IMO..

Just a feeling..

Jos.

Jos,, as the war continued, iwas told by the folks who run german helmets.com, that they stopped using primer in mid war,,, so up till then they were primed first... if that helps.

[Frank Schneider]

Helmet is an "Invalid Item" on eBarf now it's being discussed here - what a coincidence!

Frank.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Frank, but this is an old thread from 2 years ago that has got bumped back up, so no wonder it is no longer in the E Bay database


Cheers, Ade.

[Frank Schneider]

Hi Frank, but this is an old thread from 2 years ago that has got bumped back up, so no wonder it is no longer in the E Bay database


Cheers, Ade.

Well, I'll be..... Time to up my medication .... Thanks Ade. Did not look at the year this started. Funny something bumps up again after 2 years.

[Jeff Conboy]

Wire Para

I have seen that helmet and I cannot find any liabilities with it......I looked at every part with a glass and did not see any signs of tampering.It is definately a original shell,wire has rusted into the rim a little,interior color is original, double decals are painted over,there is some original paint under the yellow (not much) the rust is actually in the metal and is not loose.....There is no surface rust..If this is a repro its the best job I have ever seen or heard of and it should be worth the money for the incredible work someone did.A collector friend looked at it and came up with the same answers.The alloy part of the liner is a different cut then the other Paras I have seen...It is almost like a different design,lighter looking alloy band.....Foam is a little soft but I have seen that before.Wire is rusty,but lookes like it has been there a long time (rusting into the helmet a little)......Liner is dark and soft,strap is kind of light weight compared to some other straps....Yellow paint has no liabilities I can see, (even under a loop)...Thats about it...????? JC

[WalterB]

I have seen that helmet and I cannot find any liabilities with it......I looked at every part with a glass and did not see any signs of tampering.It is definately a original shell,wire has rusted into the rim a little,interior color is original, double decals are painted over,there is some original paint under the yellow (not much) the rust is actually in the metal and is not loose.....There is no surface rust..If this is a repro its the best job I have ever seen or heard of and it should be worth the money for the incredible work someone did.A collector friend looked at it and came up with the same answers.The alloy part of the liner is a different cut then the other Paras I have seen...It is almost like a different design,lighter looking alloy band.....Foam is a little soft but I have seen that before.Wire is rusty,but lookes like it has been there a long time (rusting into the helmet a little)......Liner is dark and soft,strap is kind of light weight compared to some other straps....Yellow paint has no liabilities I can see, (even under a loop)...Thats about it...????? JC

Interesting reply, Jeff. This helmet was posted on July 2003 (almost TWO years ago) and was found to be questionable based on the pictures. Now the pictures are unavailable since ebay deletes them a few months after the auction ends. Unless you are a psychic, how can you possibly know what helmet we were talking about?!? Unless of course, you were the unfortunate winner of this questionable helmet....

[Jeff Conboy]

No, I don't own the para helmet,but I have seen it...A few helmet collectors in the east here have seen it also, that was my assessment of it.. I knew of a few paras in Italy from contact with an individual there.I have received items from him and have seen very large collections in photos. Some were posted on Ebay,some not... A SS item that had some liabilities was sent back... with full refund...Never had any problem with the contact there.My sand/single decal photos will be posted in the near future..Thanks, JC