The model 1915 French Colonial Infantry helmet

What can I say about Adrian helmets that I haven't already said here and here?

Plenty,  I love these helmets.  The so-called Adrian is my favorite helmet design.  This earliest entry into the helmet race, though of no ballistic value, did protect the wearer from falling debris and splinters, and perhaps just as importantly, instilled a large degree of elan among fighting troops who enthusiastically embraced this distinctive piece of headgear .

The naivete of the warring nations in 1915 is reflected in the design of this artistic little gem.  

Little could they imagine the horrors they had unleashed upon Europe.

 Unlike any helmet coming after it, the 1915 French steel helmet still retained a design which reflected the aesthetics of the era.

 

Of four-piece construction, the model 1915 could not withstand a heavy blow let alone a projectile strike or an encounter with a taxicab tire.

Still, this light-weight helmet was better than the cloth kepis it had replaced

The horizon bleu finish, though quite complete on the exterior of this helmet is nonetheless oxidized and considerably darker than the day it came from the factory.

The distinctive Adrian profile has an American connection.

African-American soldiers, in the Jim Crow-era were issued what the US Army deemed "second-rate" equipment, and were thus equipped with French rifles and model 1915 helmets.

The men of the 93rd Infantry Division turned an intentional slight into a prized symbol of distinction and esprit de corps, even incorporating the model 1915 into their shoulder insignia

 But I digress. 

Back to the French.

The insignia on my new acquisition is a real piece of confection; the flaming bomb and anchor  of the French Colonial Infantry.

 visor and skirt are riveted at the centerline of the bowl; one of the structural fail points of this helmet.

Quite pronounced is the boss of the front split rivet which secures the comb to the bowl.

Sadly, the interior can only be described as being in "relic" condition with much paint loss, significant pitting, no liner, no chinstrap, missing bale and incomplete liner mounts.  

The good news is that the exterior is very presentable with few dents, 90 to 95% percent of the paint intact, a mellow patina, and a wonderful insignia, all illuminated here by the evening sun of the Cumberland Valley of Maryland:

 "Life", as my friend Steve says, "is full of trade-offs".  Ain't it the truth?

The ventilator hole as well as the split rivets affixing the comb are illustrated here.

as well as the corresponding vent slits on the exterior.

This overall view of the interior demonstrates the weaknesses of this helmet as a collectible

 

 

When I first started collecting, that wise old sage - Floyd Tubbs - advised me "always get the best helmet you can at the price you can afford".  And that is superb advice, which I always pass on to beginning collectors; but here I make an exception to that rule.  This helmet, in its current condition, is somewhat noncollectable among the high-end collectors.  For my garden-variety purposes however, well...  I simply can't pass up a pretty helmet.

And gosh, a pretty helmet paired with a pretty face?

ooh la!

Vive la France

More Adrians to come.

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luft m.42

The M.42, save for two modifications, is the same as the earlier M.35 and M.40 models that went before it. This is the helmet that greeted the nadir of the Third Reich.

 

 

The M.42 in action:

 

 

 

 

The Nazi industrial base was becoming overtaxed by a multi-front war and impoverished by dwindling resources. As Hitler was sending boys and old men to the front lines steps were taken to manufacture a simpler, cheaper, helmet that was still as ballistically as sound as the M.35 and M.40 helmets that went before it.  The M42 answered the production demands and available resources of the Reich as the war entered the home stretch.

 

 

Here the condition of the paint on this particular helmet is shown to good effect.  

The textured gray paint is 100% intact m-one of the best in my collection. 

 

 

 

 

 

The rear split rivet, one of three, that secure the liner band to the shell.

 

Typical of mid, to late-war helmets, only one decal appears on this lid.

 

 

The insignia of the Luftwaffe - an eagle clutching the swastika is about 90 % intact.

 

 

 

The liner and chinstrap are complete and in very good condition.  Note the lack of a dome stamp, which was by no means uncommon.

 

 

Despite late-war shortages, the ventilated pigskin leather remains nearly as high a quality as earlier models.

 The original drawstring, in very fine condition.

 

 

Coarse fabric buffers the leather from the steel liner band.

 

 

The leather is spaced from the shell with steel leaf springs.

 

The liner and chinstrap are quite complete, and, as with all German lids, this one

 is abundantly marked.

 

Manufacturer's mark and date of manufacture.

 

The liner band indicates the size of the shell as well as that of the liner.

 

An ink stamping appears underneath the leather indicating the size of the liner.  Of note is that the size indicator on the band does not correspond with that on the leather.

 

 

The manufacture's mark, size, and production number.

hKp is the abbreviation of the maker; Sachsische Emaillier-und Stanzwerke, AG Lauter (size 64)

 

 

Unlike the ventilator of the M.35 which was a separate bushing, the M.42, like the M.40 before it, the ventilator was embossed into the shell. 

 

 

Interior of ventilator.

 

 

 

Unlike both the M.35 and the M.40, the edge of the M.42 was not rolled or folded but left raw thus saving a step in production and saving time in a Reich which was running out of that commodity.

 

 

 

Steel buckle on the chinstrap.

 

 

Typical to German helmets, the chinstrap is affixed to the rectangular bail with a double headed rivet passing through corresponding slots in the leather.

 

I've seldom seen a helmet in as fine condition as this one, and I'm very happy to have it in my collection, and to share it with you here.

 From 1938's masters of the sky...

 

 

to 1945's whimpering loser...

 

How the mighty do fall