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L006158 DISPATCH RIDER/MOTORCYCLIST'S CRASH HELMET.
(Sturzkappe für Kradschützen)BACKGROUND: As with other branches of military service the Luftwaffe utilized a variety of motorcycles, primarily for dispatch couriers, reconnaissance personnel, security escorts, traffic control, and later motorcycle riflemen. Personnel assigned as motorcyclists were outfitted with special, protective clothing that included protective pull-over sweaters, gauntlets with long, extended, cuffs the unique, motorcyclist’s protective coat and a leather crash helmet. These items were classified as Sonderbekleidung, (Special Clothing), and were issued on an individual basis to motorcyclist’s along with the standard uniform items. Although generally Officers and certain senior NCO ranks were responsible for purchasing their own uniforms and as a result were allotted a clothing allowance through the Luftwaffe’s Verkaufabteilung, (Air-Force Sales Department), system, the special, protective, motorcyclist clothing items were issued to these personnel on a "as need basis". The motorcyclist’s crash helmet was introduced in early 1935 and was worn without any identifying insignia. Regulations of March 1938 dictated wear of the standard steel helmet with the wear out period for the leather crash helmets established as May 1ST 1938. Of Note: Although many clothing regulations were not strictly adhered to it appears that few, if any, of the motorcyclist’s crash helmets were worn after the discontinue order, possibly as they were found to be a relatively unattractive piece of headgear.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Multi-panel, blackened leather construction, conical, Luftwaffe motorcyclist’s crash helmet with magnetic sheet metal and alloy fittings. The slightly pointed, crowned helmet features a raised, padded, protective bar running horizontally around the bottom edge and an additional two, raised, padded, protective bars with one running centrally from front to back and the other centrally from side to side over the top crown. The crown consists of six, triangular leather panels with machine stitched seams with each panel having, helmet two inserted, screened, sheet metal ventilation grommets positioned just above the bottom raised, padded, protective bar and an additional, inserted, screened, sheet metal ventilation grommet positioned to each at the juncture of the crown’s raised, padded, protective bars for a total of sixteen ventilation grommets. The helmet has a short, extended, forward, blackened leather visor. The helmet has a blackened leather chinstrap with dual, sliding, leather length adjustment loops. The chinstrap is secured to the helmet by two, black painted, dome headed, alloy buttons. The interior of the helmet is fully lined in ribbed, grey, cotton/rayon blend material, with small, cut-out, circular, blackened leather, reinforcement panels to the reverse of the exterior ventilation grommets. The interior crown lining has a glued on, black based, manufacturer’s paper label with red printed script that includes the manufacturer’s name and location, "Maury & Co. Offenbach a.M." The interior of the helmet also has a wide, light tan, leather sweatband with eight, small evenly spaced, natural cork spacer situated between the sweatband and the helmet body. The sweatband is well marked with a faint, purple size inkstamp, "54". The reverse of the sweatband is also well marked with the black inkstamped marking, "LBA 36", indicating Luftwaffenbekleidungsamt, (Air-Force Clothing Depot, 1936), and a unit designation, "II/Flak-Regt.11", (2ND Battery of the 11TH Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment). The crown lining has one small tear and the sweatband shows moderate age and usage toning and some light moisture spotting. The interior of the helmet has downwardly extended, dual-ply, blackened leather side and nape of neck cowl panels with a reversed "D" shaped, ear cut-out to each side with a fold back, leather closure panel with a single sheet metal, female snap with dual corresponding male snaps to each. The snaps to the ear cut-outs secured the fold back ear panels in either the opened or closed position as required.
The forward sides of the cowl extend further downwards with four, vertically aligned, male, fit adjustment snaps to the left side and four, corresponding, vertically aligned, female snaps to the right side designed to be fastened below the wearer’s chin. The interior, reverse, nape of the neck cowl has the matching, impressed, unit designation as on the sweatband, "II/Flak-Regt.11". The black painted, "Stocko" type retain all of their paint and still function. The helmet is in overall good condition although it has been slightly deformed from poor storage. The helmet shows minor age and usage toning and the leather appears to have been treated and is still quite supple. Scarce, short-lived, Luftwaffe motorcyclist’s crash helmet.GRADE ***1/4 PRICE $1,075.00
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-E-Mail Address pawmac@nbnet.nb.ca Or guild@nb.aibn.com
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