UBB.threads Forums Uniform & Accessories Police Uniforms Forum Berlin Police helmet from SOS

Well, I have returned from the Show of Shows (SOS) and now recuperated a bit. I thought I would show an Imperial Berlin Police helmet that I picked up. It is the circa 1898-1918 Pickelhaube for the Berlin Schutzmannschaft. Notice the traditions Wappen with the dates 1848-1898 that was worn after 1898.

Here is a side view of the helmet showing the nickeled brass fittings and short spike with pearl ring. Still a bit grungy and in need of a cleaning but quite solid and all there.

CONGRATS!

Quite an Impressive Imperial Berlin Police helmet! Love these older ones as they have so much history to them.

It looks quite Super as is - and with a bit of minor cleaning its old glory will be restored. Txs, Dave/dblmed

George,

Looks like a keeper to me, very nice!

A good oppurtunity for me to learn something here .. why would a Berlin policeman's helmet sport the Bavarian motto on its insignia? Could you please tell us something about that?

Best regards,

Bill

George : Great find ! Looks nice ! Any unit markings inside ?

Very nice Sergeanten Pickelhaube! Congrats.

Try to change the chinstrap....yours is a post 1936 one (or later).

Thanks for the kudos on the helmet guys.

Bill, this helmet was worn by provencial policemen with a plain W and crown from around 1866-1918. The more elaborate cypher was worn by the Berlin Schutzmanner until 1898. In 1898 The scroll was added and worn by the Berlin Police until 1918. While the motto is the same as the Bavarian, this is a traditions scroll awarded by the Kaiser for loyal service from 1848-1898. To confuse the issue even further, there is a Roman numeral IV under the cypher.

Gerd, yes the chinstrap is a bit later. Interestingly enough this helmet was worn with this style leather chinstrap instead of the scaled strap. There is also no sign of cockades ever being worn with this particular helmet.

Bernd, there are no markings at all inside.

George,

Thanks for letting me know about the motto. I guess it's true when they say, there's always an exception to the rule ...

Great addition to your collection!

Bill

quote:

Bill, this helmet was worn by provencial policemen with a plain W and crown from around 1866-1918. The more elaborate cypher was worn by the Berlin Schutzmanner until 1898. In 1898 The scroll was added and worn by the Berlin Police until 1918. While the motto is the same as the Bavarian, this is a traditions scroll awarded by the Kaiser for loyal service from 1848-1898. To confuse the issue even further, there is a Roman numeral IV under the cypher.

Gerd, yes the chinstrap is a bit later. Interestingly enough this helmet was worn with this style leather chinstrap instead of the scaled strap. There is also no sign of cockades ever being worn with this particular helmet.

George,

the Roman numeral IV is very easy to explain, as the founder of the Schutzmannschaft Berlin was Friedrich Wilhelm IV (FW is the cyphers ID). Only Berlin (Berlin in the borders of 1848) located officer got this scroll.

Please find a picture of a Wachtmeister Schutzmannschaft without the scroll with this post (worn outside Berlin). Golden FW IV on silver colored eagle (silver is a bit faded).

For the missing chinstrap, I saw one or two period portraits over the years with the very same set-up.

A very nice Pickelhaube in good condition!

George, very Pickelhaube! Did you find anythig else at the show?

Thanks Dave. I picked up three US swords and several odds and ends at the show but nothing much else in the police line except a white and a black helmet plume.

I am still cleaning on this helmet but it is slow and tedious work.

George , here is the front plate I have . Looks to me like it is fire gilted atop a brass base material .
Now I just need the helmet for it !

...and a close-up .

The front cypher is fastened by three prongs as you can see on the backside .

Looks like my cypher never had the 'IV ' .

quote:

Originally posted by bernd:
Looks like my cypher never had the 'IV ' .

I never had one, because it�s the front plate for a customs Pickelhaube. Here an example of the complete customs Pickelhaube.

Schutzmannschaft is always in silver finish (Prussian). Here an officer Berlin

Gerd,

Great helmet photos. When, and if, I ever get this Berlin helmet cleaned up I will post a photo so you can see the before and after shots.

What a pain to clean up but I am happy with the results. I don't think this helmet had been touched since 1918.

There was still a lot of nickel over the brass base that was peeking through. No restoration was done on this helmet, only cleaning and polishing. Most of the brassy look was age and nicotine staining. I decided to do nothing to the leather body as it is in good shape with tight stitching.

WOW! What an awesome result!!