Missing washers...

[Rich G]

Hi guys,

In your experience of helmets.. if the washers are missing is this definitely a bad sign?Well, I know it's not a good sign but could it be period? Do you know of helmets that you feel are 100% OK but have the washers missing?

I have an early (pea green) DD heer (with tri-shield removed as per regs), ET68 shell, re-inforced alu band (dated 1939 and size 68), chinstrap dated 1939 and named. Everything matches up... dust between shell and liner, rivet colour, wear all look right but the liner is loose because there are no washers. I suppose ultimatley I have to accept this could be a put together set but just thought I'd ask anyway.

Thanks

Rich

[SgtB]

Hello Richard,

Yes I have had helmets that came right out of the woodwork that had the split washers missing. My guess is that the liners were
hurriedly replaced or refitted in the field and the washers were simply discarded.Did you ever try to install these little buggers?
It ain't easy! With the millions of helmets, it had to have happened sometimes. Resale value will, of course, reflect this...

[Edelweiss]

It will be hard to add anything to Brian's answer...
Or perhaps to say that a helmet comes out of the woodwork only ONCE : this particularity is lost with the first sale, and if washers (or anything else) are missing, I think it's better to keep an original untouched "out of the woodwork" piece (at least YOU know that), than selling it. And of course, to keep it "untouched".

About the other ones, if it's the helmet's period state, I think that "missing washers" are much better than "badly refitted washers" : rivets never keep their mouth closed about this operation !
And to my point of view, "touched" rivets on a helmet are far more dissappointing than missing washers...

[Perry Floyd]

Brian pretty much summed it up..
Yes original out of the woodwork helmets have turned up with missing washers, sometimes all or just one. It could be from the original owner leaving them off after working on his helmet to the veterans kids pulling them off in the backyard in 1950...
Value is affected by this and it does make a harder sell as it is considered a flaw that most collectors avoid..

[Rich G]

Thanks for your thoughts on this. I for one would not attempt to add 'new' washers. That's the way the helmet is and the way it stays until it leaves my collection.

I'll post photos of it in new thread.

Rich