Code: H27044
Fl.31212. By Striegel & Wagner of Lichtenfels, Bavaria. Size 59. This exceedingly rare winter pattern helmet is manufactured in brown goatskin leather with the usual lambswool lining. There is a single press studded strap on the crown, two goggle straps at the rear of the helmet and flat hooks at each side for the use of an oxygen mask. It has brown leather covered aluminium bakelite earpieces fitted with Siemens receivers. On the inside these are seen behind a metal plate, covered by a leather disc and 'donut' earpad. A single round throat microphone is housed within the lining of the helmet, immediately above the right chin strap, such that when fastened the microphone was held against the airman's neck. The microphone was encapsulated in rubber to prevent damage from sweat and topped with soft leather for comfort against the wearer's neck. The 1.3 metre rubber covered loom is fitted with a very early pattern 2-pin plug and a further 2 single pin plugs. Later examples were fitted with the more familar 4-pole 'beehive' plugs. The leather is in excellent supple condition and the straps/buckles are equally good. There is minor loss of fleece at the edges of the lining and the chamois strap backing is soiled. Both leather donuts are a little squashed but remain in very good condition. It feels like the rubber around the microphone has hardened and perhaps crumbled a bit. The avionics are complete with wiring loom, integral microphone and plugs. The rubber loom covering has hardened and there is some cracking and minor loss in places. Care should be taken handling the loom to prevent further loss. Fully labelled and dated December 1936. A super example of this early helmet pattern that saw use in the early days of the Condor Legion and Luftwaffe during the Spanish Civil War and beyond. These helmets do not turn up often and are so rare they don't even feature in most reference books. Stock code H27044.
