Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely example of an Ersatz (Replacement Material) Stahlblech Steel Pickelhaube. This is only the third one we have ever received, making this a rare offering from IMA! When WWI broke out, there was a great need for additional helmets and equipment for the mobilization. A shortage of cow hide from Argentina combined with the excessive draw upon German industry to outfit the massive army being mobilized, resulted in a severe shortage of leather for manufacturing Pickelhauben. To meet with this immediate shortage, the Germans began in 1914 manufacturing helmets from Ersatz (substitute) materials.

The Stahlblech Ersatz-Helme differs from the Eisenblech (tin plate) Pickelhaube as the helmet is pressed from one sheet of steel. Front and rear visors are part of the pressing and are not separate pieces like the traditional boiled leather Pickelhaubes. These helmets often show evidence of being turned on a lathe by the circular patterns found on the shell as can be seen on this example. As these helmets were structurally quite strong, there was no need for the reinforcing front visor trim or rear spine. In lieu of the front visor trim, the entire bottom edge has been rolled-over to form a beaded edge, a feature later used on the M1916 Steel Helmet which replaced the Pickelhaube. The helmet has been painted an olive-green which is not lightly faded.

This helmet features a lovely frontplate (wappen) with the Prussian state eagle clutching a scepter and crown, over the King's motto, MIT GOTT FÜR KOENIG UND VATERLAND (With God for King and Country, i.e. Prussia). The Preußen issued Wappen in 1895 were intended to be made out of Tombak (an alloy made from a combination of copper and zinc) but it seems that the copper-color was unpopular and they were soon replaced with Aluminiumbronze which has a very bright brass appearance, though this one is made of stamped steel.

The crown of this helmet displays a steel vented enlisted spike mount on a steel baseplate. The spike is in good condition, and this example does not appear to be rotatable, or if it is it’s just seized. The baseplate is very tight to the helmet. It is missing the Prussian (black and white) kokarden, which has been replaced with a new-made National cockade, and the helmet does retain the original German National Colors (red white and black) kokarden (cockade) around the chin strap lug. We are unsure why a 2nd National cockade was added, but it will work for display until a Prussian example can be found. The original chinstrap is retained, and it complements the helmet very well, with a patina that matches the helmet. 
 
In 1897 the new Reichs-Kokarde in Red-White-Black was introduced for all ranks to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kaiser Wilhelm 1st. The Reichs-Kokarde was to be worn on the right side of the helmet, and the state Kokarde was moved to the left.

The soldered bolt and nut system used to secure the front Wappen onto the helmet was changed to a system for retaining Wappen on the front of helmets that had been used as far back as 1845 for Bayern (Bavarian) helmets and 1867 for Sachsen (Saxon) helmets. A soldered loop was affixed to the back of the Wappen which passed through corresponding grommeted holes on the front of the helmet. A leather wedge was then passed through the loop on the interior to keep the Wappen in place. Both Leather wedges are still present, as is the original liner, which is intact but heavily worn from service. 

Overall a lovely example of a service used Ersatz steel Pickelhaube. Items such as these ones rarely surface in today’s market, marking this a wonderful addition to any Imperial German collections.

Comes more than ready for further research and display.