SS Heer Crusher Welhausen

[clestuff]

OK, I know this one is going to have some really mixed opinions and that's ok. I recently picked this up off another member and I know it was briefly discussed. BUT, either I'm going color blind or the cap band is black. It's also a smooth cloth material and not felt. I was thinking perhaps a really really dark green but I don't see a hint of green. To me it's also a crusher and not "crusher like". I say this because it not only has a leather visor [which I know was a Walhausen option] but it also has a treated cloth paste board. To me, these are the two things that define a crusher. All the rest is just window dressing. Eagle, cockade, chinstrap...doesn't make a difference. If the hat was made with a leather visor and cloth pasteboard it was made to be "crushed", therefore a "crusher". That's just my opinion. I would like to here some others.

Thanks in advance,
Cliff

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[Glenn McInnes]

I have seen a few Heer officer tunic collars using this material,it was a VERY dark green.






Glenn

[afrikasandman]

It's looking like a dark dark green to me, Heer all the way. Matt

[phild]

I agree that it was made as a Heer cap and seems to be a very dark green band.

I'm not sure (anymore!) that there is a distinct "line" between what always is and always is not an old style cap, as a good number of caps can be found with what many consider the traditional defining features of both.....in one cap.

I think that the main thing to consider is that the makers (not to mention the wearers) did not define these terms or even approach the production offering from the same point of reference that we collectors do now!

Collectors try to shoe horn everything into this category or that category regardless of what was being thought of at the time it was produced. That is the nature of collectors and collecting......for every kind of item.

[jmcm]

Very Dark green!

[clestuff]

Thank you for the comments. I'm still seeing black but did compare it to some old threads by same maker, and some of those look black too on the Heer caps. So I have to agree, its Heer. None have any close-up pics I could find of the band material which I think is very unusual on this hat. I also couldn't find any of the Welhausens' with leather visors that also showed the paste board material. I also have yet to see a Welhausen with cloth insignia. Is it possible this was the version of a crusher by this maker? The comment about trying to put things neatly into categories makes a lot of sense. When it comes to private makers, I think they each had their own version of a crushable field visor and a dress visor.

[jmcm]

Usually if you take it outside you will see the green.

[Kurt]

Beautiful textbook Welhausen lid - they often have slightly darker cap bands (like many Paul Kaps as well).

I would be more interested in determining the piping color. If orange, you really scored. Can you post some pics in natural light?

Kurt

[clestuff]

Beautiful textbook Welhausen lid - they often have slightly darker cap bands (like many Paul Kaps as well).

I would be more interested in determining the piping color. If orange, you really scored. Can you post some pics in natural light?

Kurt

Kurt,

I think the jury is still out on the band color. I posted a couple of pics on the SS forum and most see it as black. I would be very curious to see if anybody has a Welthausen with the same material type on the band. Piping looks red in person. I was thinking Feldgendarmerie but it does look red to me. I will get some outdoor pics as soon as I see the sun. I think it may be coming out tomorrow.

Thanks for comments, Cliff