Leather helmet with unknown eagle and swastika

[Joe Mc]

Hi all,

I've spotted this leather helmet for sale and I really like it.

I've spent hours looking in books and scouring the internet so much my eyes hurt but I can't identify what it is.

Any pointers would be greatly appreciated,

Many thanks,

Joe

[Br. James]

Hi Joe,

While it's not possible to know what the helmet looks like from the one photo you've provided, the eagle as swaz certainly appears to be that of the NSKK -- and the NSKK also wore a black leather helmet. If this is the only photo available of the piece, then as the old saying goes, "the buyer beware!" You should ask for a set of photos taken from a variety of positions, and of the interior. Who knows? Maybe someone has stuck an NSKK helmet eagle onto an old football helmet...?! From the one photo, the leather does not look like it is in very good condition, in any event. Just some thoughts.

Fröhliche Weihnachten,

Br. James

[Erich B.]

It's a basket-case Motor SA/NSKK leather crash helmet. It's missing its padded bumpers, and possibly the side pieces and neck protector. Not much value.
Erich

[RonR]

One for comparison...



,,,,,

[sgstandard]

Helmet

Erich is right - especially considering that the missing components would be virtually impossible to find. Value of that helmet is basically only what the front insignia is worth, which is actually considerable. This is the 1st pattern helmet , and average examples go for roughly about $800 or more. My guess is that the insignia alone would fetch $250 or more. Explain to the seller that the helmet's a disaster. Act disgusted. Then, offer him $100 .

[wilhelm Saris]

In my opinion this helmet doesn't miss things. I remember having seen this form of helmet in the miners-museum from Bochum in Germany about 25 years ago! Maybe someone added the eagle as in use for the Motor-SA to give it an interesting look?

[sgstandard]

Helmet

You may be correct - the visor is different, as are the vent holes, and more.
Good catch !!

[Br. James]

My thoughts exactly...see my note #2 below.

Br. James

[Erich B.]

I found photos of the leather mining helmets, and, while similar to the first picture posted, they are more finished on the seams of the vertical and horizontal bands. Also they all seem to have holes punched in the visor to hold a miner's light. Closer photos of the helmet in question would be useful to determine whether it appears the padded parts of a motoring/early flying helmet had been removed or not.
Erich

[wilhelm Saris]

Maybe you're right, but I have seen lots of them in the archive of the museum. Those stocked there had no holes in the visor. Must see I can find the negatives made there, but at this moment I do not know where to find them.

But in a cataloque I have from the TR-period from the concern Carl Henkel from Bielefeld (specialized in miner's uniforms and equipment) a drawing is included from a so-called Gruben-Steigerkappe. The drawing does not show holes in the visor. These leather caps were available in black or brown leather. The cap in the cataloque is a bit different, but in my opinion they have made for miners not only one form of such cap. The holes are most often at the front and in the middle of the top.

[ivbaust]

Here' s a photo of an old miner helmet