Helmet Values and Interest

[Dan P]

I hope I'm not beating a dead horse here, but I just wanted to touch on a couple points from an earlier thread regarding future interest in helmets and values.

I became interested in WWII German helmets back in the early 1970's when I was about 10 years old and watching shows like "World at War". That was almost 30 years after the end of WWII. No one in my family was directly involved in the war either. It was just a fascination with these things that came out of nowhere and is hard to explain.

There is just so much film footage of WWII that will continue to fascinate future generations that I think there will always be interest in German helmets. Plus, they are just plain cool looking. In my opinion, helmet values will most likely continue to rise.

Regarding fake helmets. I think it will be virtually impossible to make a fake that will get passed someone who is truly knowledgeable. There will always be telltale signs of forgeries, not unlike counterfeit money.

Dan

[BobI]

Dan,
I agree 100%! In fact, I find I have more "sticker shock" than my customers. People thought I was walking on water when I sold me 1st DD SS helmet for 500 dollars! Now, I pay more than that for Army helmets!Rare helmets can be sold for retail and still resold at a profit on nice helmets I have seen.
On the fakes, there are some incredible repos on the market. Still, there is always some sort of tell tale sign.
Best Wishes,
Bob

[WalterB]

Dan,
I agree 100%! In fact, I find I have more "sticker shock" than my customers. People thought I was walking on water when I sold me 1st DD SS helmet for 500 dollars! Now, I pay more than that for Army helmets!Rare helmets can be sold for retail and still resold at a profit on nice helmets I have seen.
On the fakes, there are some incredible repos on the market. Still, there is always some sort of tell tale sign.
Best Wishes,
Bob

With respect to some good fake camo's, I am afraid that in 40 years they will have accumulated enough patina to be very difficult to differentiate.

[CWP]

Anything that has been made, can be used again. Genuine Nazi-era relics were made with 1930s and 1940s technology. Just think how much easier it would be to manufacture these items with modern techniques. If it is possible for forgers to fool museums with multi-million dollar art forgeries, what can stop forgers from perfecting a fake SS decal if prices continue to rise? A helmet decal is just ink printed on celluloid. I do think perfect fake decals will eventually become a reality and may well destroy the market for these items.
Most collectors I meet grew up in the 1960s and 1970s. At that time, young people were exposed to a huge number of movies, TV shows and even comic books about World War II. The Great Escape, Where Eagles Dare, Cross of Iron, Rat Patrol, Combat, etc. had a ton of appeal not just to the public in general, but to children and teenagers. There were also lots of WWII vets around whose stories could spark the imagination. Now, there are no WWII-themed TV shows on the air. WWII movies come out less and less frequently and those that do, are rarely the kind of full-out action movies that thrilled generations of youngsters. Of course there are video games, but to a lot of kids these are a means to an end- their interest goes no further than the game it seems. I agree that there will always be an interest in WWII, just as there will always be an interest, on some level, of all periods of history, be it Roman, Medieval, or American Civil War. However, I do believe that the paeak of interest in WWII is right now, and that in 10 years or so, as older collectors pass on and few newer collectors are there to buy their stuff, there will be a drop in prices.

[langemarck]

Hello everybody,
I'm a new member at the forum and I'm collecting german helmets for about 15 years now.
I'm affrraid Chris is right, at the moment the prices are extremely high and I think we are about at the top now.I'ts not a hobby for common people anymore!!!!
This and the huge number of good made fakes discourage most of the new collectors.

[BobI]

Hi!
I started collecting close to 30 years ago and at that time people had the same fears as we do today. And honestly, there are some superb reproductions out there! In today’s world I think collecting has changed as well. Now days it is best for most people to truly narrow their study to 1 are of collecting, sub-specialization is even better!
I have studied SS decals for a bit and owned many, many SS helmets. Still, I am not embarrassed to say I may ask one of my friends for their advice whom knows more than I. In person judging decals is a bit easier than from pictures. Even if there is a “perfect” SS decal there are other variables to consider. Some of these are impossible to compare with the effects of Mother Nature! Not to mention the materials and methods of application.
I know it is hard to believe but, helmet collecting is in its infancy right now. Prices seem to increase on a daily basis. I know because I buy and sell them almost every day of the year. Helmets I sold a couple of months ago at full retail are often items I would like to get back. I would in many cases for SS, camos, paratrooper helmets and some Army helmets pay more than I sold it for! In the last few weeks I have noticed Luftwaffe helmets are starting to take off.
Bill Shea has two para helmets on his site that came from me originally. The prices he is asking are substantially higher than what I sold them for. And I am sure he will get it!
These are my observations I have made over the years.
Best Wishes,
Bob

[TONY Q.W.]

IMO, the new generation fakes will drive the prices higher of all the current original helmets. In other words, original helmets will simply keep increasing in price. The dealers will be happier selling fewer items but with very high prices. I believe, that we will soon see single heer decal helmets in the neighborhood of 2000$.

[Dan P]

That's an interesting take Bob, that German helmet collecting is in it's infancy. You very well may be right about that.

Chris mentioned all those movies and TV shows from the 60's and 70's. For me though, and I think for most other collectors, it wasn't those "fantasy" TV shows and movies from back then that sparked interest. Most of those were laughable in terms of realism. That's why I mentioned "World at War". That was the only documentary style show I can remember from back then. It was the books, period photos, and of course all that great original black & white film footage that was so fascinating and made WWII seem so long ago, yet so tangible.

Just watch The History Channel to see how much programming is devoted to WWII. There are by far more documentary type shows on about WWII now then ever before. I'm just waiting for the WWII Channel.

Dan