SEE BELOW FOR DESCRIPTION
|
|
H074959 FIRST PATTERN TROPICAL PITH HELMET. (Tropenhelm)
BACKGROUND: In late 1940, with the impending German entrance into the North African campaign, tropical uniforms, headgear and equipment were quickly developed and issued in time for DAK, Deutsches Afrika Korps, (German Africa Corps), personnel’s arrival in Tripoli in February 1941. One of the new headgear items introduced was the tropical pith helmet which was based on the design of the earlier Kriegsmarine pith helmet. On its introduction the pith helmet was constructed of a formed cork base with a cotton twill covering until a second pattern pith helmet was introduced with a formed cork base with a felt covering. The second pattern pith helmet followed the same basic design as the first pattern but was modified to ease production time and material costs. Wear of the pith helmets was extended to personnel serving in southern areas of continental Europe but the helmets proved ineffective and unpopular and manufacture was discontinued sometime in 1942. On introduction the tropical pith helmets were outfitted with a Wehrmacht, (Armed Forces), style national eagle and national tri-color identification shields.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: First pattern tropical pith helmet, with a formed, cork core covered in a ribbed, tan cotton twill. The helmet features a six panel, vertically seamed, tan cotton twill crown with a horizontal band stitched at the rear center at the juncture of the crown and the all around visor. The top center of the crown has a raised, removable, cotton twill covered, circular, alloy knob with three, semi-circular, cut-out, ventilation holes. The helmet features an all around, horizontally extended visor which is somewhat shorter at the front and consists of a formed cork core with a two piece, tan cotton twill covering with vertical stitched seams at each side. The forward edge of the visor was trimmed with a machine stitched, narrow strip of olive drab leather with only remnants remaining, revealing the underlying natural cork base. The helmet has two, die stamped, alloy construction shields with a national eagle shield to the left side and a national tri-color shield to the right side. The roughly, 1 5/8" tall, 1 3/8" wide, die stamped, alloy construction national eagle shield features a silver washed, embossed, high relief, nicely detailed, Wehrmacht style eagle with down swept wings, clutching a canted swastika in it’s talons, on a black finished, slightly pebbled background shield shape base with a raised lip to the outer edges. The eagle and the raised outer lip retain about 70% of their original, age and usage darkened, silver washes and the black finish to the background field is retained about 75% with spots of wear to the base aluminum alloy. The roughly, 1 5/8" tall, 1 3/8" wide, die stamped, alloy construction national tri-colored shield features a slightly pebbled background shield shape base with a raised lip to the outer edges and an additional three, diagonally angled, fine, raised lips separating the three national colors of black, silver, (white), and red. The black and red finishes are retained about 95% while the silver, (white) finish is retained about 70% with moderate age tarnish. The black and red finishes appear to have been touched up. The bottom edge of the all around visor brim is lined in tan cotton twill and the interior crown is lined in light weight, red cotton. The interior crown has a gilt washed, metal alloy grommet under the exterior crown ventilation knob which is well marked with the stamped manufacturer’s name, "P.C. Turck Wwe", and "D.R.G.M.", indicating, Deutsche Reichs Gebrauchs Muster, (German National Registered Design). The interior of the helmet has a wide, tan leather sweatband, stitched to a pressed cardboard liner band which is attached to the helmet by four, extended prongs with magnetic sheet metal cotter pins. The sweatband is in overall good condition with light to moderate age and usage toning and minor chafe wear and the leather is still quite supple. The reverse of the sweatband is well marked with a black, size, inkstamp, "59" and the manufacturer’s initials and date, "B.K. 41", indicating an unknown manufacturer in 1941. The chinstrap is absent but the alloy, quick release hook is still intact. The helmet shows moderate age and usage toning through-out.
GRADE *** PRICE $238.00
To Order this item, please use one of the two e-mail addresses below to contact us. Please make sure to quote the item number in your e-mail
MILITARIA WANTED! If you have items for sale, please contact us. We specialize in selling single pieces and entire collections. Over 3 decades in the business and we do all the work for you. Get the best return for your investment.
-E-Mail Address pawmac@nbnet.nb.ca Or guild@nb.aibn.com
To return to the main page please CLICK below