Cast Pot Metal German Helmet?

[Uhlan]

Im am not sure what this is? It is cast in pot metal, about 3/16 inch thick. It was painted in desert colors, obviously not period. A MSA liner was added. Does anyone know what this might be? please let me know. Thanks.

[Uhlan]

More photos

More photos

[Darrell]

Geezuz. How much does that thing weigh?

[ValhallaMilitaria]

Never seen its like before. In for the answer to this question.

[Jos L C]

The vent holes look more like screw holes, maybe a lamp shade ?

Jos.

[Paul G]

Someone has dolled up a helmet die. These are normally found without any paint, liner, or decals, just bare metal. The exact use is still in question, but its believed to be a die used in the manufacturing of the steel helmet. Might be for machine calibration, might be for vent hole alignment, not really sure. Its not part of the helmet stamp, as that would be much heavier, and made of steel. The ones I have seen are a lightweight pot metal or aluminum.

PG-

[luftwaffenkopf]

this has been discussed before with Brian Ice, et al, and the conclusion is that it's an alignment tool used to align the drills for the 3 liner holes in helmet shells, something like that. all specimens found are of one size too which lends credibility to it being a tool and not some movie prop ( also too heavy for that) or helmet die (too fragile for that). if you rub off the paint on inside dome rearward you'll see a stamp N--43 DIE, i believe. rare item to have.

here's the prior discussion,

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ad.php?t=58659

[Uhlan]

Thank you

Thanks for all the information on this.

[danejw]

Here's the mould that was used to cast this helmet:

http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/steel-...t-mold-702789/

Another cast helmet showing the mould number cast into the finished helmet:

http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/steel-...-metal-439283/

[helmetbuyers]

Hello

I have had these type of helmets twice over the years. They seem to be made of pot metal, thick, and heavy.

neither were painted... I think heard people calling these 'biker" helmets that came out in the 1960's.

I never got more than $75 for one. just my observation. Robert

[RamZ67]

I started a thread on these earlier today to maybe shed some light on what some were possibly used for as I have seen 2 now, one that was posted in 2015 that looks a lot like the one I picked up yesterday here locally. The gentleman I got mine from is a long time collector that bought it in 1973 from a College buddy that needed some cash, his friend told him that his brother was an Extra in the 1960's TV Show The Rat Patrol that ran from 1967 to 68 and that his brother gave it to him. The one posted in 2015 is identical to mine right down to the decals and placement as well as color of the helmet. He said it was used as a Set Prop, possibly would have been on a desk in a scene or just sitting somewhere for set display purposes in a scene, I cannot imagine a biker or anyone wearing one as mine weighs 3 pounds and 8 ounces. Here is the link to the thread I posted earlier today.

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru....php?t=1003294

[Jean-Claude]

Ah... what memories...

I have 2 of these somewhere from my biker days in the early 70's! Bought from a place called WW 2 Militaria in St Louis MO. Looked cool in the pictures because you didnt see many originals floating around in those days and you didnt know anything but not so cool "in the flesh"...

My 2 were SS (mat black) with corresponding decals. Same weird vent set ups as shown in this thread, thick cast aluminum, with the same construction style adjustable leatherette/plastc lining with SS eagle stamped inside and a webbing chin strap. Lining was secured to shell by 3 round head "Build them up" paper clips used to keep papers on files and the damn things must have weighed around 10 pounds (or more!).

Helmets werent mandatory in Canada in those days and these were so heavy they would have probably snapped your neck on the smallest impact so we never used them!

By the way these suckers werent cheap (over $100 cdn back then) probably more than an original if you could find one but given the weight, postage & customs probably accounted for most of the cost

Cheers

JC

[RamZ67]

Ah... what memories...

I have 2 of these somewhere from my biker days in the early 70's! Bought from a place called WW 2 Militaria in St Louis MO. Looked cool in the pictures because you didnt see many originals floating around in those days and you didnt know anything but not so cool "in the flesh"...

My 2 were SS (mat black) with corresponding decals. Same weird vent set ups as shown in this thread, thick cast aluminum, with the same construction style adjustable leatherette/plastc lining with SS eagle stamped inside and a webbing chin strap. Lining was secured to shell by 3 round head "Build them up" paper clips used to keep papers on files and the damn things must have weighed around 10 pounds (or more!).

Helmets werent mandatory in Canada in those days and these were so heavy they would have probably snapped your neck on the smallest impact so we never used them!

By the way these suckers werent cheap (over $100 cdn back then) probably more than an original if you could find one but given the weight, postage & customs probably accounted for most of the cost

Cheers

JC

Very interesting Jean Claude! I stand corrected and after your post decided to weigh a couple of my largest authentic combat helmets. My WW1 Austrian made Trannie weighs in at 3 pounds and 5.5 ounces, my M40 Q68 Luft weighs in at 3 pounds and 6 ounces and the mystery helmet I just picked up like yours weighs in at 3 pounds 8 ounces so they could have been worn on a bike or on a set as well as real german helmets were, not much difference in weight at all.

[Jean-Claude]

Very interesting Jean Claude! I stand corrected and after your post decided to weigh a couple of my largest authentic combat helmets. My WW1 Austrian made Trannie weighs in at 3 pounds and 5.5 ounces, my M40 Q68 Luft weighs in at 3 pounds and 6 ounces and the mystery helmet I just picked up like yours weighs in at 3 pounds 8 ounces so they could have been worn on a bike or on a set as well as real german helmets were, not much difference in weight at all.

Hi RamZ67

You are probably right about the weight but that sucker sure as hell felt a lot heavier than 3 pounds 8 ounces 50 years ago when I weighed 145 pounds! Just goes to show memory is a selective "thing" specially when you get to be my age

I'll take one out of moth balls & weigh it just for the hell of it

Take care

JC

[RamZ67]

Hi RamZ67

You are probably right about the weight but that sucker sure as hell felt a lot heavier than 3 pounds 8 ounces 50 years ago when I weighed 145 pounds! Just goes to show memory is a selective "thing" specially when you get to be my age

I'll take one out of moth balls & weigh it just for the hell of it

Take care

JC

Ha ha yeah I hear ya there!
Here is a pic someone posted on another site that he saw for sale last year. Its a Mold for those helmets. Just wonder what the intended purpose was for making them? One person said a cheap way to make helmets for War Movies back then perhaps? Others have said a Calibration tool for the alignment for the liner holes and as you said they were being sold as Biker Helmets back in the 60's at that Military Surplus in St. Louis.