Picklehaube identification help. (pics added 04/30/2009)

[Viper_486]

Just picked up a WW1 era pickelhaube this morning.
Was a local basement find.
Have even more of the basement to look thru but wanted to get started on this.
Is in pretty rough shape, as its sat neglected under a heap of junk for the last 80 or so years, but the important thing is that even tho its a little careworn, its original, and its still restorable.

It was brought back by the owner's great-grandfather, and I have the provenance from that part of its history, but would love to learn more.














Can anyone help me with identification, or does anyone know a place online to find out information on this relic?


-Len

[Longcolt44]

I have just recently been using "ASK" search engine.  I just put in picklehaube (as I didn't know what it was) and there was what seemed to be a lot to see,  and now I know.  Hope this helps.
Longcolt44

[klibben]

Can't wait to see it! I love pickelhaubes and have always wanted one!

[Viper_486]

There you go.
Just posted the 'before' pix.
As you can see, I didnt even wipe off the cobwebs.

-Len

[Junk Yard Dog]

A great find, don't do a dam thing to it, leave it just as it is, super display item.  I would put that under glass, real relic look to it, anybody seeing it would know instantly that it is not a reproduction.  It's original owner is probably still moldering in some unmarked grave on the Western Front.

[mosinnagantm9130]

A great find, don't do a dam thing to it, leave it just as it is, super display item.  I would put that under glass, real relic look to it, anybody seeing it would know instantly that it is not a reproduction.  It's original owner is probably still moldering in some unmarked grave on the Western Front.

Agreed. A restoration might do more harm than good.

[millman]

I would say it is Prussian. I have a Prussian sword that has that eagle. That is really cool.

[Viper_486]

You are exactly right, JYD.
Contacted a friend of mine who deals in these kind of things, and he threatened me with bodily harm if I even tried to turn back the clock.

Only plans I currently have are to stabilize the artifact, and no more.
It's the kind of work I used to do to put items on display when I worked in a museums conservation lab.


The quality of the stitching and tanning of the leather amazes me.
After 90 years in a basement that was damp half of the year, the leather is not cracked, and the liner is as supple as the day it was sewn in.

There is no mold or rot on the leather parts, not even a rotten leather smell.

In fact, its still supple enough that if my cheese slipped off its cracker, it could be returned back to near captured condition.


In a nutshell, plans are as follows:

1. Remove cobwebs, and loose dirt
2. Stabilize metal parts
3. Put under glass.

Want to write out its provenance, display one copy, and give the other to the lady who made owning this relic a reality.
Just need to do homework on what exact model it is, its probable date of manufacture, and what exact branch of the combined army it came from.

-Len

[Sgt. Rob P.]

It is a Prussian Enlisted mans Picklhaub. Silver metal denotes enlisted, while brass was used on the officers version. My brother has an officer style Prussian that is identical to yours except the brass metal, and he has a Wurtemburg enlisted type with a dffrent style eagle crest w/ a large shield.

Semper Fi, Rob

[Viper_486]

Thanks for the info, Rob!

[Sgt. Rob P.]

You're Welcome!

Semper Fi, Rob

[shatnerpossum]

I can throw my two cents in and concur that it is Prussian. My Grandpa collects these and has since he was a kid. Never let it go!

[Viper_486]

Trust me, I have spent the last 25 years looking for one.
And not only did I get it, I got one hell of a provenance with it.
It is priceless to me.