Hi all
Glad I can finally add this pair of Austrian M75 "Kradfahrer" or despatch riders innenhelm to the collection!!
Both are in unissued condition, one is mint!!! the other has suffered some storage scuffing, and may have also been displayed or tried on a couple of times (tell tale is the damage the arrangement of buckle "teeth" literally "biting" through has caused when closed !!) in use this would have surely meant terrible fatigue on the strap as the "teeth" nearly cut through the soft leather every time it is fastened!!
These are both stamped RM 82 on the leather liner lobes (and possibly marked on the plastic liner itself under the foam padding in the dome!!! as I have a curious plain combat type M75 liner marked RM82!!! this would explain that anomaly ... as it could be made from liner stock earmarked for "Kradfahrer" innenhlms!!! (not been brave enough to attempt a looksee ...yet!!!)!! these are in a size 56-58 and have white cross banding as apposed to the green on the standard combat M75 liner, the headband also has two bonded together neoprene padding strips (to take up the differing space in the three different sizes between the liner and headband), the leather rear valence has a flap for holding motorcycle goggle straps in place by means of a popper fastener, the rear of the liner is drilled through and two plastic hollow vent rivets have been affixed, these two "Kradfahrer" innenhelm seem to exhibit what I would take to be a real design/ manufacture flaw...... in that the overlap of the plastic headband is at the front!!........
This would surely most uncomfortable in wear!! (just a brief try on was enough to bring about a headache.... although my mahoosive head is quite a tight squeeze in most of my collection!!!!!) perhaps this was the reason for these two being unissued/rejects in the first place!!????
your thought's on these much anticipated....thanks guys.....
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