UBB.threads Forums Uniform & Accessories Helmet Forum DD M40 SS Helmet

Hi gang,
Im new to this forum and woud like your opinion on this helemt. Everything looks right but I am not sure. Its an ET66 and looks like an ET SS Decal with a Pocher Party Decal.
Thanks Marty

Next 1

Close up SS

Close up Party

This helmet is on loan to me for check out. How much would you pay for this? I brought it by one dealer and he said that he could not call it a fake nor could he call it the real deal. The decals all measure correrctly and look to have the correct age. We looked at the standard reference books that everyone else has and it looks good but it has no history so I am not sure.

Thanks,
Marty

Marty: Check this out, Jerry.

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=232466

Thanks Jerry,

I have read the comments on the other forums and am a little sad at how some poeple handled themselves. I am by NO means an expert on SS helmets but I dont think the decals are stickers. Also, The picturtes were not doctored. They may be bad decals but the pictures are ok. There have to be a few mint helmets out there....right? I am not calling this helmet real but the seller has givin me alot more than 3 days to have it checked out. From a novice point of view, I have compared the decals to the decals in the "SS Helmets book by Beaver with Kelly Hicks and it looks pretty good. Please dont throw any darts guys. Im just looking for some help....Remember..Im the new guy to this forum

Thanks,
Marty

Sorry, but KenB did an excellent job of showing that the pictures have been doctored and even Marty Feldman could see that both decals are in fact the same!. 2 forums down going for a 3rd .

I actually have the helmet in my hands right now. The photo with the chip is real. What am I missing here. Help

Marty

Re read the WA post. Some of the best SS guys weighed in. I'd drop the helmet and send it back.
Paul

Good Point.....Please keep the comments comming. Who is considered THE guru..and can he/she please throw his/her comment in.

Thanks,
Marty

Do any of you live near Vacaville, CA for a personal view?

Thanks,
Marty

I Dont want to beat a dead horse but I just want to purchase a SS helmet and want to make sure this helmet gets its fair shake. I want to make sure the experts say that these decals look wrong. I just want an unemotional judgement. It seems that both sides of that forum thread got mad at eachother early on and it all went down hill from there. I dont want it based on an incorrect judgement of a chip on a decal that isnt there when I have the helmet and it does have a chip. A mint helmet can come out of the woodwork cant it?

Thanks gang and I am sorry for dragging this on.

Marty,

If you are really that interested in this helmet. I would suggest asking seller if helmet could be sent to one of the SS Helmet Guru's for inspection. If this seller knows SS and whom the "players" are, I am sure he will yes... then contact one of the Guru's to see if they would inspect for you.

If he says NO ... not much more needs to be said.

You may be able to put entire "arguement" to rest very quickly.

I had a similar problem not too long ago on my M42 SS. Several chimed in and critiqued negatively about the helmet with a "bandwagon" reply, others gave thumbs up in the thread, and privately. However Darryl did hand inspect my helmet, however was away on business to chime in on now deleted threads in other forums. Here is this forums link to discussion for your reference (http://daggers.infopop.cc/eve/forums?a=tpc&s=42090573&f=2583025185&m=9290058394&r=9290058394#9290058394)

Thank you VERY much Craig,That is all I am asking..You never know right?
I will contact the seller and see if he will let that happen. Now to just get ahold of Darryl....are you out there?

Thanks,
Marty

Marty,

I know the feeling of thinking you found the perfect SS helmet only to be let down. It has happened to a lot of us. Not an expect but have handled a bunch of ET decals plus own several original examples. There is no doubt in my mind that these decals are recently made with the intent to fool people into thinking they are real. I will say this... If this was a real helmet in this condition don't you think it would have been snapped up by now. It has been circulating and seems to be kicked around from different people.

Thank you for your words Bryan,

I am starting to have a more faith in forums. I stop listening when people get emotional and start slinging mud.

Marty

Are you sure you are not pretending to be a potential buyer ?

You sound an awful lot like someone who has a beef with the reactions at WAF. The reactions are more than fair considering someone could have bought it and realised only later he would have been seriously ripped off.

BTW Darryl posted his opinion in the WAF thread.

You should read the owner his one and only response in this thread (that is if you are not the actual owner)
http://zline.eu/forum/index.php?showtopic=2630

I promise you that I am not pretending to be a potential buyer. I am just trying to buy a SS helmet and trying to ask as many questions as possible about this helmet. I am by NO means an expert and that is why I am here. Please dont start some kind of conspiracy thing here. I just think the thread went south due to the thought that the picture was doctored and I have the actual helmet on loan and know that it wasnt and would love to send it to someone like darryl to give it a fair shake like Craig said. I also know that I would not buy a 1969 Z/28 camaro based off of pictures. At least the guy was willing to send it to me and willing to let me ship it off to an expert.

This feels like an episode of the X-Files. Just looking for the truth man.

Thanks,
Marty

Marty,
As you know many of the members here belong to multiple fora for the discussion of helmets. A lot of fakes and fakers have been uncovered thanks to the internet and one result is that many collectors have become jaded. It is also possible to hold a bad piece in hand and "wish" it into an original because one wishes it to be so. (I have done it myself). I agree that the tone and lack of civility of other fora are disconcerting at times. This forum is a bit more civil at this time, although it has its moments as well. Back to this helmet: as Darryl Pajot can tell you I have a 100 per cent error rate when trying to discern a high end replica decal. Unfortunately, he - on the other hand - has as an error rate approaching zero. I note that he has voiced his opinion that this is not an original SS helmet. I would let it go at that. After all of the controversy you would be hard pressed to sell it later on should the need arise. Even if it might be real, it would remain a "damaged" piece in the eyes of the collector community. Be patient, a good one will come along. I wish you all the best and look forward to more posts from you in future.
Cheers,
Mike

Thanks Mike,

I guess I missed the post by Darryl on that forum thread. Thank you. I am just like the rest of you..not wanting to get burned and I am not trying to become a jaded collector. I know what it means to want something to be real. It looks so good up close to a novice..even comparing it to the pictures in the source books. Maybe that is the problem...Those books can be a double edged sword. It helps collectors but also helps the fakers with a perfect example to copy. Darryl..please send me a private message to close this page in my life so I can continue to look elsewhere. also,
how do you get in the loop to buy a real helmet from one of you guys that have authenticated helmets?

P.S. Im not trying to be smart with the comment about the Z/28. I am just a car collector and its just the way I have delt with cars for years if that makes sense.

Thanks,
Marty

Marty,

Since you have the helmet there for inspection, would you be able to take some natural sunlight pics? And give all pertinent information i.e., Lotnr, Liner Suspension info?

Regards,
Craig

I used to collect German helmets before I changed to Japanese. I bought a SD M42 army from Mr. Clover. Box came, opened it up & I smelt fresh paint. Sure enough! Bad decal, repaint etc. Seller swore up & down it was good, referenced the decal by maker which did not match in anyway. Repacked it & mailed it back.I'd say this is a pattern with this seller.

OUCH!!!

Well there is a news flash. I would walk away from this one if this is the case.

BTW, I would like to make myself clear on "walking away" from this helmet. If the seller didn't let me have an extended inspection period and agree to let me have the SS Helmet TOP GUNS do a hands on inspection (of course helmet would be fully insured, etc for transportation)... I would walk away.

Wow,

Ok Gang.

What I dont want here is a war of words. I am just looking for the truth. All I am asking is to have this helmet looked at IN PERSON and judged for what it is based off of eyes and not pictures. As we all know, Pictures can be doctored, The real thing can not. Am I asking too much? I know I am VERY new to this whole thing. I have been collecting German helmets for a short time but have been collecting cars for a long time. Worst case, I end up with a good deal, best case..another fake is revealed.
and for all we know, he was snowed also.

Thanks for your time,

Marty

Hi Craig,

I am on the road right noe but when I get home I will take some pictures in the sunlight. I will also gather up the other info. I also want you to know that I will ask the owner if I can do this before hand. In the end, It is his helmet and he has been very fair to me so far. As for the comment by Jareth, I am not ignoring it at all....Thank you Jereth.

Thanks,
Marty

Marty,

There is no need to send the helmet out. It is bad return it to the seller. You wil save yourself time, money and grief. If you want a real SS helmet save up a lot of money and keep an active eye out. There have been several original helmets for sale the past few months. All you need is the cash and a quick keyboard.

Bryan

I received a private email from the seller requesting me to edit my post. So here goes..seller agreed to let me have helmet looked at for an extended period of time. It was shown to two other more knowledgible collectors who agreed with my initial assesment & THEN helmet was returned. As for vieled threat of contacting the adm. here please go ahead. No "vendeta" as I've only bought one helmet from this seller & since then, combined with some other less than pleasant experiences with other German helmets, I've moved on. One last thing, please do not tout positive ebay feedback as a proclaimation of chracter. We all know very well how ebay's feedback program works. Crap like this is why I wouldn't want to be a collector of German helmets these days.

Marty ,

You have an agenda that much is clear. Your trust in the seller and your lack of trust in other opinions says it all.

Apart from camo's 99% of all decalled lids can be given a thumbs up or down based on good pictures.

The truth is here but if you don't open your eyes ...

Perhaps if you just compare the decals with the DD SS lids posted here you can make up your own mind ?

Hi Guys,

I guess my agenda is just wanting something to be real because it looks so real. I am no expert by any means. You guys are the experts. I am learning alot here. I am one of those guys who tend to trust people...a bad trait in this field of collecting. I do appreciate all of the input from each of you. As for cash and a quick keyboard...have those helmets been for sale on this web site?

Thanks,
Marty

what was the outcome re. this helmet? did Marty buy it or did he leave it? given the evidence i sincerely hope it was the latter option.
Bill

Blimey ... "Its real isnt it ?" .."no its a reproduction ." "Its real isnt it ?" .."no its a reproduction ." "Its real isnt it ?" .."no its a reproduction ." "Its real isnt it ?" .."no its a reproduction ." "Its real isnt it ?" .."no its a reproduction ." "Its real isnt it ?" .."no its a reproduction ." and everyone says it is . But there could be a chance its real isnt there ,,no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes no yes .......................................................................................

Well, at least they're discussing the helmet and trying to make a decision. Isn't that what it's all about? At least it should be. What is your take on this helmet, Rob.

Just for everyone's info, I have been sent this helmet and have recently examined it in the flesh. However, I will leave it up to the owner to post my opinion of this helmet if he wants to do so.

Cheers,

What is your take on this helmet, Rob.

I havent a clue . I havent got an SS helmet yet but if I were to purchase one (after doing as much homework as possible )I would place it on the WAF or Walhalla forum before purchase and I would listen to what the forumites had to say (and especially the forumites who have expertise in this field)if its 100 % possitive then that would be good enough for me ,if there were a few hmms and ermms then I would pass .Rob

It hasn't been said on this thread but isn't the DD/SSM40 one of the rarest of all SS helmets? Seems like that has come up before in a past thread. David

OK, I'll play. Having looked and looked and compared....I think this is a good repro, but not an original.
Cheers & tears,
Mike