What to do with this WW2 find
 

I managed to aquire this gem:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._2169652_n.jpg

Its a WW2 german helmet, remade into a manure/lime scooper. A widespread activity after the war when there were lots of these lying around.
I'm going to renovate it, maybe try to sell it, or do the historian heresy and turn it onto a biker helmet

more pics:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._4695550_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._2668061_n.jpg

You may want to inquire the webmaster here. Nice guy and can tell you what to look for. Don't start cleaning it until you're sure how to deal with lime. My guess is it's pitted underneath. May be worth more as is. Appears to be a standard issue combat helmet.
http://www.german-helmets.com/APPRAISALS%20MAIN.htm

Obvious it will have some damage and markings may be hard to find. Being welded on not a good thing and no telling what the damage is under the lime. Unless it has some special markings, SS, ect...probably not much value. I have two, one worth about $400, the other $50.

I would use it as a biker helmet, I had a NVA one as a summer helmet, they are ok when it rains, but of course not recommended when you plan to crash :03:

When you restaurate it you should probably sell it to the Yanks as you won't get much for it in Europe - unless its a seldom model.

Or paint it red, stick white fur around the edges and go as Whermacht Santa Claus for christmas. :D


Lttle OT: Can you recommend a good read about the role of Slovenija in WW2? It often gets left out then talking about the war on the balkan and especially the year 45 seems to have been very interesting and intense . I read a little about when the papers here wrote about the mass graves in Mostec they found 3 weeks ago.

Hey there, I believe this to be a M42 German Stahlhelm, hard to tell due to the coating but . For starters leave well alone for now till you know what is currently covering the helmet as there could be German issue decals on underneath the coating.

What is the helmet attached to?

If you do go ahead with cleaning be very very careful as like I said about the decals the helmet may still have original factory paint underneath or possbile camo.

Once cleaned your talking in the area of £100.00-£300.00 (all depending on the paint and possible decals)

If it can't be removed or cleaned off safely, you can restore it with replica parts. Decals and liner/strap parts are available on ebay.

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trk...All-Categories

I should add that many restored helmets are described as originals and look the part down to the faded paint and scratches, worn leather, aged decals, etc.

ask these guys:

http://70.87.163.50/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=26

I am apart of the Walhalla forum. This forum is full of experts and they will no exactly what to do.

http://www.walhalla.se/

Original colors are existant underneath, there are some clean spots where the army gray can be seen. I'll try to make a pic of it tommorow when I fiddle a little with the camera's ''insect zoom'' :DL (as it says in the manual).
Chemistry should help me with this, what takes of lime and not anything else ?? If any of you know tell me. It wont be until march till I start work on this helmet, the garage is simply too cold so proper solutions can be found in ample time.

Can't think of any right now, but I'll PM you if I find anything

Resurected this thread so I can update. I couldn't get the lime of with soft chemicals (I'm not going into how I stank up the garage with 5 litres of vinegar :haha: ) so I went with an angle grinder and sanded the surface. One might say I ruined the original color, but considering I found enough rust underneath for two my cars and believe there was not much to ruin.

Then I took some hydrochloric acid and gave it a gentle wash. This is what came out

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...97295538_n.jpg


I'll put an anti-corrosive layer on it and spray it with a model paint. Now, which color did the Kriegsmarine use :hmmm:

Soldat! You are not veering any strap on your helm! Vi vill send you to the Ostfront! :O:

The rust doesn't look too bad on the helmet, looks like Erbsentarn, lol

Entschuldigung Herr Oberst, aber ein Sovietische Scharfschutzer hat mein Gurt abgeschosen (it's been too long since my german classes in high school :doh:

Flaming pink. :yep:

Strafkompanie 'Hello Kitty'
http://i45.tinypic.com/2s9bptz.jpg

Your German seems to be pretty good for that. Only minor mistakes in an uncommon sentence. Not bad.:yep:

Would make a canny potty :hmmm: