Need Help on Tropical Pith Helmet

[mboyd]

Hi All, I have a chance to purchase a Heer DAK helmet, but I need advice:

1. Is it authentic?

2. Is it a first Model?

Any help will be appreciated as the price falls in my budget and if good, I don't want to lose it. Thanks, Mike

[mboyd]

Photos of Pith

[mboyd]

another view

[mboyd]

yet another

[mboyd]

and yet another

[mboyd]

and still...

[mboyd]

and finally....please let me know what you think, and THANKS to all in advance, Mike

[Fred S]

First model for sure

But:
aditionnal holes on the side of the heer insignia would made me think it was first a luft one (pith luft eagles are hard to find...)

As well about the sweatband: I don't know if first model was still produced in 1943? Can't remember this manufacturer for pith, maybe some members do?

I would pass and wait for a 100% genuine 1st model: even if more people look for them now they're not yet too much expensive and pretty "easy" to find.

[mboyd]

Hi Fred...thanks for the comments, I saw the two holes as well, I agree with your Luft ID. Just out of curiosity, what should a helmet presented as this one cost. Thanks, Mike

[Lenny W]

ive never seen that maker but it looks like it once was a luftwaffe pith helmet and some has added army insignia and also tri color shied is a little lower than i like to see them it to could be a replacement as well i would have to see pictures of inside where shield comes threw the helmet , i like the color of the chinstrap and outer trim most original luftwaffe amd some KM pith helmets i have seen had that set up as the army had the more green type.

[Fred S]

About what I've seen about outer trim colour, it depends certainly about the manufacturer, IMO. Something to dig out, I'd like to see a study book about only pith helmet, would be great!

We had a brief discussion about it recently

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=226941

You're welcome Mike

About the price? Well if insignias are not matching the helmet I would guess about 200 USD (well I wouldn't pay more, and would prefer to add 100/150 bucks for a 100% genuine one, even with appropriate replacments insignias).

[Lenny W]

About what I've seen about outer trim colour, it depends certainly about the manufacturer, IMO. Something to dig out, I'd like to see a study book about only pith helmet, would be great!

We had a brief discussion about it recently

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=226941

You're welcome Mike

About the price? Well if insignias are not matching the helmet I would guess about 200 USD (well I wouldn't pay more, and would prefer to add 100/150 bucks for a 100% genuine one, even with appropriate replacments insignias).

totally agree

[mboyd]

Thanks Guys....I really appreciate your help, that's what makes this site the BEST!!!...people like you two!Well, I'll continue my quest for a Heer 1st Pattern Helmet, maybe one will surface soon. Cheers and thanks again, Mike

[NickG]

Yep for sure Luft with nice Luft brown chin strap (as opposed tro Heer green)
Get a Luft eagle (like here) and you have a nice pith!!!

[Tim O'Keefe]

Mike

Agree with Fred & Nick, this is nice LW style Tropenhelm, except '43 date would imply it was intended for service in the Mediterranean theatre, not DAK. Also at one time this helmet had the LW Eagle as mentioned. As Nick says, find a LW eagle for this one or wait and find original first pattern Herr Tropenhelm from '41-42.

Nice to see a new interest in these Tropenhelms as collectors. When I was a boy it seemed like everyones uncle had one of these sitting in his garage gathering dust.
Overtime they became the DAK outcast item, due to DAK vet stories about how useless the Tropenhelm was and collector indifference and abundance. But Tropenhelms were an intregal part of DAK service, the more formal headgear of the Desert. I also agree with Fred it would be nice to see a book just on Tropenhelms as this area of DAK collecting has been neglected.....

best
Tim