Two SS Officer Visor Hats for your consideration

[preachere]

Agreed, please put something under that cap and take the stress off the peak. I can hear the threads groaning from here.

I have no idea how they were stored before but will certainly flip them over as a temporary solution. I have a styrofoam head I can put the black one on for now. Thanks for the information as I'm not a cloth headgear kind of collector.

Regards,
Eric

[Pascal Bernhard]

[Hoss]

These caps sold at auction last week for $57,500.

Description: Important positive info (10/15/13): We made a mistake in the description of these rare hats. We stated visors were patent leather which is not correct. They are Vulcan Fiber painted black which is exactly the way the hats were originally made. They are 100% correct. Unique offering acquired from the estate of a WWII Veteran some years ago. The first is a textbook example of the Allgemeine SS officerís standard issue black wool visor cap. It has a very nice saddle shape and the body of the cap is in very sound condition with no visible issues. The centerband is made of a black velvet material which, combined with the silver bullion chincords and silver pebbled buttons, identifies this as an officerís model. The SS eagle and skull are original to the piece and made of tombac with a silver plating. These show some typical lifting of the plating. The black patent leather visor is in place and shows only light wear. The underside of the visor has the cross-hatching and faint but still readable proper RZM/SS ink markings. The size 56 marked interior is a crËme colored rayon material. The complete celluloid moisture shield is intact with the large SS runic symbols. This also has the desirable rayon RZM(quality control) tag as issued by the office of the Reichsf¸hrer Himmler. The cap is clearly named on a paper tag to SS Captain (Hauptsturmf¸hrer) Emil Bihler (researched with details later in description). He was attached to SS Subdistrict XXVIII. The interior has quite a bit of staining but is still intact. The brown leather sweatband is intact and still supple. There is a large oilcloth makerís tag indicating an early production example. This has the RZM makerís information on one side and the ownerís name is written on the other side (Emil Bihler). This has become detached but will be included. Overall this pieces shows light use and grades near excellent. The second part of this lot that came together with the black cap is the incredibly rare summer version of the Allgemeine SS officerís hat. This white topped visor is a museum quality example with the top made of a fine quality white tricot material. It has a wide ribbed white piping along the top rim. The black velvet centerband is piped in white on the top and bottom. The silver bullion chincords are secured to the cap by two silver pebbled buttons. The matched silver plated tombac eagle and skull are original to the cap, show good detail and have a nice aged patina. The black patent leather visor with brown underside has clear RZM/SS markings. The size 56 marked white interior is very clean and retains a complete celluloid diamond. The light brown leather sweatband is supple and complete. Based on the observed construction characteristics, we believe this cap was produced by the firm of Clemens Wagner of Braunschweig This cap is not named but there is little doubt that it also belonged to SS Captain Bihler as it is the identical size and was found together at the same estate sale. This is a unique opportunity to acquire a very important set of rare and genuine German SS visor caps. PROVENANCE: This offering will also include over 120 pages of research done on the owner of these caps. This information, gleaned from the National Archives, provide us with considerable insight. It also presents the buyer with the opportunity to do further research. Emil Bihher was born on the 13th of October 1901. He joined the NSDAP on the 1st of May 1933 and was party member 3,968,302. He then joined the SS on the 1st of August 1934 and was given SS# 253,754. He eventually attained the rank of Obersturmbannf¸her (Major) on the 30th of January 1944. He was married and his wife was a member of the womanís league (Frauenschaft). Up through 1942 he remained as Staff leader of the Allgemeine Sub-district XXVIII, then he was transferred to the Waffen-SS. He was awarded the Russian Front and wound badge (didnít stipulate which one) and ended up attached to the Croatian Mountain Unit Handschar (not a fun assignment). More research might reveal additional details. CONDITION: This very desirable cap, which is missing from all but a very few German WWII headgear collections. When it was originally purchased out of the estate(and when it was consigned to us) the visor and sweatband were separated. We made arrangements to have one of the world's leading restorers, restitch the visor. He did a superlative job using original vintage cotton thread and using the exact same holes whenever possible. The result is that this restoration is virtually undetectable (as is much of Mr. Koningsveld's extraordinary work). We have included clear images of the before and after so there is no question regarding our description. The overall condition is restored to full excellent. Considerable thought was given to whether these should be sold separately or together. Given the fact that these came from the same estate (found together in a single plastic bag in the back of an old closet of the previously mentioned estate) and that they obviously belonged to the same person and because one has the original owners name attached, it was felt they both should be kept together.

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Eric

[wolfslair44]

If only I had $57,000 lying around. Unfortunately not in this lifetime.

[BrianK]

Here was an instance where the restoration was the right thing to do, and it paid off. I admit though if I had them I would do everything I could to try to keep them.

[preachere]

Here was an instance where the restoration was the right thing to do, and it paid off. I admit though if I had them I would do everything I could to try to keep them.

I wish I could have, but I've been laid off since January 4th of this year and talk is we MIGHT be going back to work this coming January. The sale of these hats was more than I make a year at my full time job.

Regards,
Eric

P.S. Ben did a truly stunning job restoring that white top and I can't thank him enough.

[wolfslair44]

I wish I could have, but I've been laid off since January 4th of this year and talk is we MIGHT be going back to work this coming January. The sale of these hats was more than I make a year at my full time job.

Regards,
Eric

P.S. Ben did a truly stunning job restoring that white top and I can't thank him enough.

Eric,

To me, it's the right decision. These are fabulous objects, but that's all they are, real life comes first. Thanks for bringing these back to life.

[BrianK]

Just saying, if I was the one who found them out of the woodwork, I'd have them restored & liquidate the rest of my collection to pay the bills, if I possibly could. But I understand your position - I've just retired & took a $ hit. At least I wouldn't have to shell out $57K. Couldn't do that unless I sold my house. Anyway it was like winning the lottery.