Anti magnetic mine paste on helmet.

[Rolf D.]

What was the purpose to having this pasty substance on a helmet??? Was ist just for sheer camo?

[Perry Floyd]

What was the purpose to having this pasty substance on a helmet??? Was ist just for sheer camo?

Yes, same reason they would mix sand/dirt, sawdust or woodchips into the paint.

[Willi Z.]

Zimmerit was just one of those resources available to a front line soldier to dull his helmet.

Bruce, I am sorry but I don't like your helmet. I agree with the others, about it's possible origins.

Andy, that is one killer piece!

Nick, yours too! Superb! Is that rust I see on the side? I only ask because Zimmerit seems to be something that absorbed rust, and kept a very orange color. I see the same, along the front rim, on Andy's helmet. Will add more later, and a photo or two of mine Zimmerit helmet.

Finding a Zimmerit covered helmet is very tough.

[Lone Pine]

Ok, I hear what your saying, but some things to consider:

It doesn't have a new paint smell.
Where the paint is chipped off round the rim and under the zimmer is long term rust.
The paint on the one Irv pointed out is a different shade and a flatter finish.
You all might be right, but I'm not totaly convinced just yet.
Bruce

Hi Bruce,

Have a look at this one and you will see what Perry is talking about.
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ad.php?t=79471
Regards
Irv

[Rolf D.]

Ok, I hear what your saying, but some things to consider:

It doesn't have a new paint smell.
Where the paint is chipped off round the rim and under the zimmer is long term rust.
The paint on the one Irv pointed out is a different shade and a flatter finish.
You all might be right, but I'm not totaly convinced just yet.
Bruce

Could it be possible that they were for WH use and this example is one that actually was issued? Just thinking out loud.

[Perry Floyd]

Could it be possible that they were for WH use and this example is one that actually was issued? Just thinking out loud.

No, this is actually a old topic which was debated heavily in the mid-90's when many collectors were trying to justify hanging on to these. I think it would be safe to say today, at best 1% of the helmet collecting communty accepts these as legitimate Third Reich era helmets intended for Wehrmacht issue, but for some reason never got distributed.

[Willi Z.]

This is indeed a very old topic. I think two of these were recently sold (M40 and M42)on estand in the $200 range, when a nice tan camo would bring 6 times as much...at least.

Back to the Zimmerit. Can we see some closeups of the rim, the worn areas, and the substance coating the helmet? Zimmerit is really rather fragile stuff and to find it (like camo paint) on the rim in such a large quanity would concern most.

[nick]

ok

Here are more pictures of Bruces helmet.
Willy have to look close on my helmet to see if it is absorbed rust, will be for tomorrow I guess

Pictures:

[nick]

2

[nick]

3

[nick]

4 and last one

[Willi Z.]

Whatever that stuff is has a white base. There is rust under it, but it has not absorbed the rust.

Did that chinstrap come with it?

Not saying that original Zimmerit has to have absorbed rust, am only floating a theory around. Since both Andy and Nick posted "one look" helmets, I just thought this was the time to test the theory.

[Lone Pine]

Willie

Yes the chin strap came with it.
Bruce

Whatever that stuff is has a white base. There is rust under it, but it has not absorbed the rust.

Did that chinstrap come with it?

Not saying that original Zimmerit has to have absorbed rust, am only floating a theory around. Since both Andy and Nick posted "one look" helmets, I just thought this was the time to test the theory.

[Blindpew]

I have a helmet that I mention now and then, that a magnet does not stick to.At first I thought it was the paint but in fact it is the metal.The helmet has had a drop down liner, which pretty much makes it post war...although I have read that these drop down liners MAY have been issued to civilians at the end of the war in 1945......anyway my point is, perhaps if you could bare a bit of metal inside somewhere, get a magnet and see if it sticks to the metal alone....this may determine if it is indeed zimmerit paste or if it is in fact a "post-war" m40 shell made from anti-magnetic steel.
I'm only suggesting that it is not the paint that is "anti-magnetic"

[Willi Z.]

Zimmerit can not be applied on a helmet in a manner that would prevent a magnet from sticking. Zimmerit was applied to armor with deep groves...to add depth.