mle 16 turtle camo

[philgilou]

Hello

One of my prefered ww1 mle 16 camo helmet...

[helmet2id]

Great colors! My favorite color scheme for these WW1 camo's. Jim G.

[philgilou]

would anyone have an idea about the meaning of the guy with the ladder as well as the ladder on the back of the helmet?

[AndyM35]

That’s a great Imperial Steel camo you have there with classics ochre colours. Looks like a smaller size too - either 60 or 62.

I have never seem either of these insignia before although it appears to have been painted around the same time of the camo. It may have had some personal significance for the soldier.

I might check with a fellow collector of German WW1 Camo’s to see what they know.

Andy

[Adravor]

That is a wonderful helmet you got there, fantastic camo and great condition! Truly one of a kind.

The guy with the ladder seems like a chimney sweeper to me, possibly his peacetime job? I also like that the helmet has literally an heart on the front. Truly fantastic.

[philgilou]

Hello Andy. Yes it is a size 60 Siemens und Halske. About 1% of the helmets only. Thanks for your answer Andy

[philgilou]

Hello Adravor. I have the same idea of yours..chimney sweeper. Certainly a lovely job for him!

[Anderson]

Interesting personalizing and rarely seen. The symbol is really the ladder. I would suggest possibly a military unit such as pioneers, "miners", telegraph layers or trench engineers might be more likely meaning than a chimney sweep, but just a guess.

[philgilou]

You're also right Anderson, maybe a military unit sign...thanks for your interesting answer!

[AndyM35]

Hello Andy. Yes it is a size 60 Siemens und Halske. About 1% of the helmets only. Thanks for your answer Andy

What a great pickup! Can’t get much scarcer than size 60 S&H.

I have asked a fellow collector for an opinion and will post it when I’ve heard back.