Whitewash Camo helmet or dirt?

[John T]

Hello fellows:

I just got this piece from the vet's family. The piece has some white "stuff" on it that is either paint or dirt. I tried rubbing and whatever it is will not come off. Could this be dirt that has somehow adhered to the helmet after the war, or remains of original whitewash?

Any opinions would be appreciated. I can provide more pictures if needed.

John

[John T]

picture two...

[John T]

Picture three..the white is not showing too well in these pictures as I used aritificial lighting and the pictures seem to be a bit dark:

[John T]

detail:

[John T]

another view:

[John T]

Interior view:

[HptmCox]

I'm no expert here, but it looks like it could be the beginnings of some surface rust. It looks similar to how my M40 is. Either that or it could just indeed be dirt, 60 years of wear and aging or some simple camo scheme that has since worn off pretty much. You'll get expert oppinions soon...good luck

[John T]

I'm no expert here, but it looks like it could be the beginnings of some surface rust. It looks similar to how my M40 is. Either that or it could just indeed be dirt, 60 years of wear and aging or some simple camo scheme that has since worn off pretty much. You'll get expert oppinions soon...good luck

Hi HptmCox: It does not look like rust, as it is something on top of the paint and not coming through the paint but it could be some of the other things that you suggested. John

[Jean-Loup]

The white looks like remains of whitewash/cement camo to me, because there isnt any in the place where the decal is scraped. The scrape is obviously very old, and if the white was dust, there should be some in the scrape as well.
Actualy, there is probably lots of dust on the remains of the whitewash, like there is dust in the inside.
Nice find!
JL

[Perry Floyd]

Hard to be sure without a hands on..

The inside looks nearly the same so I lean more towards the very old dust/dirt, as if the helmet was covered in dirt for concealment..
Do not clean that helmet though, this is exactly the way you want to find them...