The Problem with Antique Malls: the movie

I think all serious helmet collectors can relate to this one:

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Happy collecting!

Mannie

Bundeswehr Tanker's Helmet: Cold War era

Fifth in a series of tanker helmet posts


"Sadder but wiser" 

That's  a phrase that characterizes the early purchases of many helmet collectors. I think all of us, in our ignorance and lack of experience, coupled with our enthusiasm, have bought a helmet that was misrepresented by the dealer.

The subject of this post represents one of a few of those instances on my part.

Back in 1989 I was very happy to pick up this "American" tankers helmet, ca. Korean War.  At least that's how the dealer pitched it to me.  The price was right and I paid cash, feeling good about the purchase.

As soon as I got it home and took a good long look at it I became uneasy.  I was starting to have some doubts.

Although very similar to the WWII American G.I. tanker lid, there were things about this one that just didn't match up.

It wasn't until I purchased Paolo Marzetti's "Combat Helmets of the World" (1996) several years later that I finally got a positive ID. There it is on page 120, figure 32.105; "Bundeswehr tankman's helmet U.S. A.C.H. type"

Oh well, live and learn. I still don't have an American tanker's helmet of the WWII era, but I did pick up, for $25.00 a pretty okay West German version. So all's well that ends well I guess.



Here then, in all of its copycat splendor, The Bundeswehr tanker's helmet of the post WWII era.
Front view, note the lack of the "horns" found on the U.S. version.

The straps that secure the headphones are also unique to this German number.

Top view demonstrates far fewer, and different placement of  ventilation holes than with the U.S. lid.  Marzetti notes that earlier versions of this German helmet had an aluminum bowl while later ones (as this one) had bowls made of fiber.

There are no maker's marks of any sort.  A (missing) rubber disc fits in the very crown of the helmet to provide additional cushion for the wearer.

White felt padding backs the four fingers of the leather liner.


The is the only stamped marking of any sort in this lid denotes the size, the only other is in chalk...

and is just as mysterious in meaning.

Foam rubber, long since rotted away, was cemented on the headphone earpiece flaps, both for comfort as well as acoustic insulation.

A close up of the elasticized straps that snap into place to secure the headphones, also a view of how brittle much of the leather has become. That little metal bracket was, I believe, part of the suspension for a boom microphone.

Despite my initial buyer's remorse and a few years of trying to puzzle this one out, it remains a very nice specimen.  A mute testimonial of a West Germany that was quickly getting back on its feet economically and militarily following the devastation of the Second World War.  I'm happy to have gotten this helmet at such a reasonable price.  And although I'm grateful to have acquired it...

here's looking toward the day when an affordable U.S. WWII tanker lid comes my way:

Until then, happy, and informed, collecting to us all.

Mannie

provenance:
accession number: MOA hmar v2.120.32.105
Bundeswehr Tankman's Helmet
Acquired 1989, Lansing Michigan.
Purchase price :$25.00
Condition: fair

Next Monday, another tanker helmet installment.

Schutzmutze: The West German tanker's beret/helmet

fourth in a series on tank helmet posts

Of all the helmets in my collection, this one is my wife's favorite.

For your consideration, the Bundeswehr padded tanker's beret. This natty little number is a testimonial to tradition, functionality, and rakish good looks.

The design is a direct descendant of the Baskenmutze of the Nazi era.

Now, I don't feel I'm going out on much of a limb here by opining that there were only three things the Nazis created that weren't outward manifestations of their black-souled demonic evil, and those three things were actually pretty swell. They are:

1. The autobahn
2. The Volkswagen Beetle
3. The Baskenmutze/Schutzmutze family of helmets

While this trio slowly roasts in hell (for those of you who believe in that sort of thing) their jaunty little padded berets continued to march on into the 1970s in the form of the Schutzmutze.

This side view shows to good effect the typically high-quality wool that forms the beret portion of the Schutzmute. Our first clue that this beret is unusual is the thick, protective bumper that runs the circumference of the opening.

Here, is the meat-and-potatoes of this helmet/beret.  When the beret is slipped off we are left with the protective element of this helmet.  Marzetti states that the protection is acheived through felt and foam rubber,


and,  when you pull back the inner fabric lining, some sort of plastic, ABS (like) or fiberglass hard shell is revealed, forming the rigid, non-ballistic,  bowl.  

As is so often the case with old foam rubber this foam has deteriorated into nothing more than a granular orange powder.

This particular Schutzmutze is abundantly marked.   Finding and interpreting the markings on a helmet is much of the fun of collecting.


Based on this label, if I had to guess, I'd say that this helmet was produced in January of 1963.  Here again, I remind readers that I always welcome corrections, clarification, and comments.  Any information that YOU can provide will simply make this a more valuable post to collectors and helmet enthusiasts, and I am always very grateful for your thoughtful, and factual,  input.


I'm guessing that this is the size.

These markings are stamped underneath the sweatband, I don't know what they mean.

The very cool insignia of the Bundeswehr graces the front of this very distinctive piece of military headgear.

Altogether this stout hard shell coupled with the surrounding bumpers provides considerable protection for the head of the tanker, all in a lightweight, well ventilated, and very attractive package.

Like I always say:  "Bundeswehr is fun to wehr!"

Just ask these three Leopard tankers.

For successfully incorporating both the beret AND androgney the Bundeswehr has no equal!




provenance:
accession number: MOA hmar120.32.106
Schutzmutze: Tank Crewman's Beret/Helmet, West Germany 1970s
Acquired 1984, Lansing Michigan
Purchase price :$15.00
Condition: excellent

Next Monday, another tanker helmet.

Comments from readers include:

This authoritative laundry list from collector dirk r. festus festerling

great fun (like every week...), just some small additions:

The concept of the Autobahn (without actually naming it like that)
predates the nazis. post war chancellor Adenauer, then lord mayor of
cologne, a conservative hardliner but surely no nazi, and the prussian
Landeshauptmann (roughly: province chief executive officer...)
Johannes Horion, not accidently member of the same Burschenschaft
(Conservative student´s fraternity) as Adenauer, ran the project to
employ thousands of jobless people (the use of heavy building
machinery was forbidden whereever a man (or many) and a
shovel/wheelbarrow could get a task done.
as a nice side effect the BIG ford car plant in cologne got a high
speed test areal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundesautobahn_555
more fun details http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundesautobahn_555

the Nazis just spread the concept.

"Our first clue that this beret is unlike other Bundeswehr berets is
the thick, protective bumper that runs the circumference of the opening."
[change made to above text]

at that time there are NO other bundeswehr berets. non-armour wears
various versions of Schiffchen or Bergmütze caps.

56 is the size, indeed. the crossed sabers beyound the cokarde aren´t
the armour symbol, but the generic "army" one. [change made to above text]
the only crossed symbol in armoured units is the crossed lances of the
Panzeraufklärer armoured scouts, but "your" beret was issued to all
armoured personnel regardless of designation. stories of PzAufkl
lining (at own cost) the inside of all of their uniforms including
pyjamas in gold satin to show they are the true heirs of cavalry are
greatly exagerated. never witnessed trouser inliners.

oh, and on the last but one tank helmet. nowadays and at least from
the ´80s onward bundeswehr armour was issued the same or rather very
similar padded headgear. i´ve been searching for very stupid foto of
chancellor Kohl wearing one of these while stuck in a Leopard turret
hatch in Munster, celebrating 30th bundeswehr anniversary.


the number of non-staged fotos with protective caps is neglectable.
whereever possible "true tankers", non-debarking Panzergrenadiers and
protected company Jägers will wear their issued black resp. green
berets without any serious protective qualities and put a comm headset
over it, only those stuck with non-camouflagous headgear couldn´t
prevent wearing these.
i still like my coral red beret.
and i´m a bit nervous about recent attempts to impress the afghan
public with superior haberdashery:

Soviet tank crewman's helmet: Cold War era

Third in a series of tank helmet posts

This post is to celebrate Russia's Euro 2008 soccer victory over Sweden (2-0) last week in Innsbruck, Austria.

In an uncharacteristic demonstration of restraint the Russians chose not to rape three quarters of the population.

"How nice, for a change" remarked an elderly Austrian woman who remembered the Russki victory romp of 1945.

Here then, is that marvel of fabric and horsehair; the summer tankman's helmet of the 1970s.

But first a glimpse at some propaganda pix of the Reds in Berlin in 1945.  Check out the classic Soviet tank helmets. 

Am I the only one who finds this picture disturbing?

I think these commie tankers have more than liberation on their ferret-like little minds.  

This Soviet tanker's helmet from 1974 is little changed from the days of WWII when the Red Juggernaut was rumbling toward Berlin.   

Unlike the fiber, leather, and metal AFV helmets of many other nations of the same era, this number is strictly fabric.  Now I don't know from personal experience,  but the strategically placed bumpers seem like they would provide somewhat inadequate protection  inside a jolting armored fighting vehicle.

If any readers have personal experience with this helmet I'd love to hear about it, that is if you're still with me after that "ferret-like little mind" crack.

The classic profile, with neck flap up.

Here the neck flap is in the down position.  The purpose of this flap is not known to me. Perhaps it prevents dust and grime from getting down the back of the tankers neck.

When properly adjusted this helmet is quite comfortable.

This adjustable strap across the dome allows the wearer the ability to customize the fit of the helmet.

Markings are abundant, crisp, and colorful.

These markings provide this non-Russian speaker with minimal information, however they do nicely nail down the date of manufacture - 1974, height of the Cold War, back when I was doing my bit to thwart the evil designs of the Red Menace.

                     Me against them - 1972.

Access to the rubber headphone cups is provided through hidden slash pockets.

Another adjustment strap located under the flap allows for a snug fit below the nape of the neck.

The use of leather is minimal in this economical helmet, only at the brow...

surrounding the earphones...

and on the short chin strap.

Integral fabric loops control and guide the headphone cables.

Only one nice piece of confection graces the front bumper pad of this otherwise proletarian helmet.

Our brave young tanker contemplates past Red Army victories against the fascists and dreams of future successes against...the Afgans?


до свидания и удача мои друзья

provenance:
accession number: MOA hmar.v2.238.62.20
Helmet - Tank Crewman's Helmet, Soviet Union
Acquired 2005, ebay purchase
Purchase price :$4.50
Condition: excellent

Next Monday, another tanker helmet.