Discussion/ways To Display German Helmets

[jamesmccann]

My Opinions On Display Are As Follows,the New Glass Heads I Dont Like,i Think They Detract Fromthe Helmet,to Shiny And Reflective.i Recently Got An Excellent Male Head With Rugged Features,yes In Polystyren,but Iv Never Seen The Helmets Look So Well,especially With The Chin Stap Down.why Not Put A Cloth Between Head And Leather Liner To Prevent The Damage People Talk About.i Also Got A Black Fleck Head And Its Awful!i Like Helmets On Ww2 Gas Mask Canisters.i Have A Seriously Damaged German 16 Pattern Sitting On An Equally Damaged 18 Pounder British Shell,which Looks Great.i Also Have Another 16 Pattern Damaged Shell Displayed On An Old Victorian Bayonet With Curved Quillon,incidently The Germans Modified This Bayonet To Fit The Mauser!with The White Display Heads ,puting Goggles On The Head Can Make The Helmet More Dramatic,and I Have On Display A Steel Helmet With German Gasmask On Head.i Also Have The Usual Array Of Chicken Wire,bread Bag Straps,+original Helmet Net.in Finishing At Times I Smear Helmets With Mud Taken From Relic Helmets ,mostly From The S Omme,and They Look Quite Dramatic.maybe This Isnt Everybodies Taste ,but Id Like To Hear Your Own Opinions On Displaying German Steel Helmets.best Wishes From Ireland James

[Richard Gordon]

James

I don't display mine, they sit on shelves in my store room.

I wouldn't set them on anything that might damage the liners and I wouldn't add any mud, etc for effect. They are, how they are.

From top to bottom
1. Polizei, M35 DD Heer, M35 No decal
2. Luftwaffe M42 M40 M35
3. Heer M35 M40 M35
4. Kreigsmarine M42 M40 M35

Eventually I'll put up more shelves for the remaining helmets not shown.

Regards

Rich

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi James, this is all down to personal taste I guess? I have the glass heads for some of my helmets and caps. (Pad out the shell with an old white cotton T shirt, so not to cause stress to the liner) I think they make a classy display. The small size shells will not fit these though, so I have to display them on a shelf, with the chinstrap loose.
I do not like the polystyrene ones, aside from the probs they can cause to the leather. The flock ones I like even less. However, I do like the wooden stands that some people have made.
Cheers, Ade.

[Jean-Loup]

I personaly dont like the styrofoam, or other fake heads. I find they dont look good, and I am sure it doesnt do any good to the liners to have the entire weight of the helmet on them all the time. (OK, this problem can be solved if you put a T shirt under the liner like Adrian)
I store my helmets on empty bottles, and hide the bottle with a period picture. It lets the chinstrap hang, and cant harm the liner. I find it looks better for the helmets to be up in the air with the chinstrap hanging, than just sitting on a shelf. But all this is just my personal taste.
About putting mud on helmets, or leaving them covered with dust; as far as I have seen, in certain humidity conditions, this can be a bad idea, because the dust/mud will tend to attrack the humidity much more than the bare painted metal, and over the years, the parts coverd with dust will become rusty. I have a US helmet that is rusty only on the neck guard because the chinstrap was passed over it.
Anyways, I think most of us would feel very uncomfortable putting mud on our helmets. The mud isnt actually from the war; it will do no good to the helmet.
JL

[jamesmccann]

Yes ,it Is Down To Personal Taste And What Works For An Individual.i Know The Mud Thing Would Be Controversial,but Of Course I Wouldnt Put That On A Mint Helmet.the Helmets Clinically In A Row Woulnt Work For Me ,it Reminds Me Of Freshly Made Bread,although In The Long Run ,these Helmets Would Be In Great Condition.my Gut Feeling Is Some Collectors Are Overly Fussy On Worrying About The Liners ,and Miss Out On Seeing The Helmets Shown Off To Full Effect,i Like Seeing My Helmets As Close To Battle Field Conditions As Possible.once Again I Respect And Will Learn From Other Collectors Oppinions,diplomatic Or What Guys,best Wishes To All James Belfast.......

[Jan B]

Hello James

I agree with Richard, the few I have in my collection are also just sitting on white shelves,which is indeed the best way to prevent any damage the liner,etc...so no heads either, although I have one of those realistic pintus-heads which I sometimes use to take pictures.

IMO, a good realistic head is very nice on display, but not good for the liner...


Cheers
Jan

[Jan B]

And as I'm not really a helmet-collector, but need them to complete set-ups, I sometimes display them this way too, like Adrian stated, similar to the wooden stands, excellent when you've got a named helmet!

[Jan B]

...I just "stock" them as they are sooo easy to get and prices are incredably low, so why even bothering to take care about them

[darryl-P]

Originally Posted by Jan Beazaer

...I just "stock" them as they are sooo easy to get and prices are incredably low, so why even bothering to take care about them

Sacrilege!

[atcase]

Hi all,
whilst still trying to work on my room most of the lids are still in boxes, but heres a shot of the `top twenty ` odd.

Ashley

[atcase]

Hi Jan,
great idea untill someone tries to sit on them !!

Ashley

[Ty Smith]

Impressive display you have there, Ashley !
I see a few really really nice ones

[atcase]

Thanks Ty,
the collection is coming along slow but sure, most of these have appeared on the forus at one time or another. Just got to find space for the rest

Ashley

[jamesmccann]

Hello Guys Thanks For Replies And Pics,all The 42s Stacked Like That Has Given Me An Idea,i Was Short Of A Seat In The Apartment,errr Maybe Not,best Wishes James /belafst