Look what I found!
After an age of searching and finding only items that had sold long before I got there I located a nice example for sale and made by FW Quist. Sadly I was once more outbid (some people offer silly money for these) but on the off chance I asked the seller if he knew where I might find another.To my surprise he said that he in fact had another but not a Quist. Rather a Linneman & Schnetzer.
I would have preferred the Quist for the historical antecedence but the L&S would do I suppose
So, we made a deal and here it is;
Der Zweiteilige Stahlhelm der Bundeswehr known in official nomenclature as Model 1A1 and by collectors as the Bundeswehr M56 (distinct from the DDR NVA M56) was introduced when the Bundeswehr was formed and is an almost exact copy of the US rear seam swivel bale M1 so much so that some of the fabric used could easily be ex US stock! To me it is the one Euroclone that is the most worthy of the label "Clone". The differences are clear but minor. For example the nape strap is fixed and non-adjustable and this is about the biggest real difference.
It was made by FW Quist of Esslingen and Linneman & Schnetzer of Ahlen.
The liner or Innenhelm in German parlance was made by Bebrit Presstoffwerke, Bebra, Maury & Co, Offenbach, Presswerke, Schwaben, Hans Romer, Neu- Ulm, Rommler, Grossumstadt and Schuberthwerk KG, Braunschweig.
This one comprises a Glocke (or bell) / shell by Linneman & Schnetzer (Logo stamp in dome) and Innenhelm by Presswerk Shwaben (marked PSP 58 for Presswerke Schwaben Plochingen 1958). The Innenhelm is not painted gloss green as many seem to have been but an eggshel finish green on top of what seems to be matt olive underneath so perhaps for "duty" rather than parade use.
There was initially no net for these helmets and before the BW thin black synthetic net was produced the thick dark green knotted natural fibre Bundesgrenzschutz net was used by some units but this does not seem to be throughout the entire Bundeswehr.
Neither was a camouflage cover issued but eventually covers were made under local arrangements from the various patterns of Zeltbahn material. There was a snow cammo cover introduced I think in the '60s which continued until the reversible Flecktarn cover appeared in the '90s.
Anyway, I am pleased to have filled another gap (I did mention I don't collect helmets right? )
Here are some pictures. All comments and opinions welcome.
Regards
Mark
PS The pictures up-loaded in an illogical order for some reason!
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