Memorabilia

The PH helmet is of gray flannelette with a lavender and white striped flannel pajama material interior lining, fitted with screw-in metal bezel and glass eye pieces as was used for the second pattern Hypo helmet.  A metal tube exhalation valve is attached with a rubber tube valve on the interior of the helmet, and the helmet is stenciled at the base "PH 65" on the interior.  The tube valve fitting has the rubber exhalation valve; lacks the rubber portion on the interior.  Exterior has stains and discolorations.  The eye pieces have rusted and suffered some material loss from that oxidation, and the surrounding fabric shows stains where it was once folded over the rusting eye pieces.  Includes the correct carrying satchel and liner.

The PH helmet is outwardly similar to the P helmet, but with the addition of hexamine to the phenolate and glycerin solution, yielding greater resistance to phosgene gas and some limited protection against hydrocyanic acid.  The PH superseded the P helmet in early 1916 and remained in use until replaced by the small box respirator later that same year.  $2000 - $2500

The Phenate-Hexamine Goggle (PHG) helmet is of gray flannelette with a blue twill flannel pajama material interior lining, fitted with fixed goggles with screw-in metal bezel and glass eye pieces, and a black elastic strap headband that encircles the crown.  The goggles have red sponge rubber interior seals.  The metal tube exhalation valve lacks the exterior rubber flutter valve, though the interior rubber portion survives.  Helmet is stenciled at the base "PHG 42".  This example has the rubber exhalation valve; lacks the rubber portion on the interior. Exterior has extensive stains and discolorations.  Lacks satchel, but does include a non-lined white cotton carry pocket.

The PH helmet is outwardly similar to the P helmet, but with the addition of hexamine to the phenolate and glycerin solution, yielding greater resistance to phosgene gas and some limited protection against hydrocyanic acid.  The PHG was a variant of the PH helmet developed specifically for artillery crews, incorporating sponge rubber goggles to protect gunners from becoming combat ineffective due to the effects of tear gas shells.  These were issued from January 1916 until replaced by the small box respirator which was introduced in August 1916 and became standard issue by January 1917.  $2500-$3000

Belgian WWI Adrian Helmet

French made Model 1915 Adrian steel helmet retains 80% khaki painted finish with dark patina visible in the worn areas.  Obverse has Belgian lion's head badge.  Interior has a black leather second pattern liner and adjustable brown leather chinstrap.  White initials "S.L." are painted on the interior of the crown. 

$150-$200

Belgian WWI Headgear Lot: 2nd Division Infantryman's Visor Cap & Medical Soldier's Sidecap

Includes a Belgian Medical Service sidecap with bullion tassel; interior has quilted khaki lining with buttons for an internally mounted chinstrap (which is no longer present.)  Shows light service soil and wear, just a pinhole or two on the exterior, quite nice overall. 

Belgian WWI second division infantryman's visor cap is of olive drab wool twill with a reinforced cloth-covered visor, obverse with an enameled Belgian red, yellow, and black cockade, a silver Roman numeral "II" insignia, and dark blue soutache piping, complete with matching cloth chinstrap secured by tan composition side buttons.  Interior has painted fabric sweatband, gold silk twill lining printed with "G. LEHOUK" maker's logo with French address, and "YSER / 1914 - 1915 - 1916 - 1917 - 19_".  Shows normal light wear with a few small holes, but great condition overall.  Blue piping would also be appropriate for Infantry or Army Administration, with the difference between the two options only being the patch and piping combination on the soldier's uniform collar.  $400 - $500

Bulgarian WWI Visor Cap

Coarse olive wool cap has red wool piping; obverse with cockade in the Bulgarian national colors.  Composition visor remains in good condition.  Interior has drab cotton lining with size marking "57" and a short brown leather sweatband.  Our consignor had not removed the price tag after he originally purchased it, so now we know that it was sourced from our colleague, Mr. Bill Combs!  Shows light service wear, no readily apparent mothing. 

$150 - $200

Canadian 8th Mounted Rifles Officer's Service Dress Cap

Khaki thin wool twill service dress cap has cloth-covered visor, brown leather chinstrap with Canadian general service side buttons, and an 8th Canadian Mounted Rifles cap badge on the front.  The cap shows significant grime and service wear, with damage to the fabric on the back of the band.  Interior has a partially legible trade label under the dark and degrading crown protector, with a heavily soiled but intact brown leather sweatband.  The interior of the cloth-covered visor has a break that you can feel, but it does not deform the visor.  This piece of headgear has been stored flat for some time, and suffers a bit of deformity due to that, but this should be something that could be remedied by gently working it into shape on a properly supported archival hat form.  Definitely a cap that has seen extensive service use!

The 8th Canadian Mounted Rifles was formed in December 1914, recruiting men from Ottawa, Peterborough, and Toronto before mobilizing at Ottawa under Lieutenant-Colonel J.R. Munro of the 5th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards. The regiment contributed drafts to the Canadian Expeditionary Force throughout 1915 and sailed for England in October with 31 officers and 601 other ranks.​

Upon arrival, a major reorganization of Canadian mounted units occurred. Effective March 2, 1916, the 8th Canadian Mounted Rifles was absorbed into the Depot Regiment Overseas Canadian Mounted Rifles. Its personnel provided reinforcements to the Canadian Mounted Rifles battalions serving with the 8th Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division on the Western Front. The regiment was officially disbanded in June 1918.​

Though the unit initially trained and deployed as mounted infantry, the transition to trench warfare quickly led to its conversion to infantry roles, reflecting the changing nature of combat during the First World War.

$200 - $300

Includes two corrugated metal carriers for the French Model 1917 ARS gas mask, also a single ARS mask which has solidified in the position it held while stuffed into a carrier.  This is the norm for the ARS; of the hundreds of examples that I have handled over the years, only one or two were pliable enough to be very carefully displayed.  This one additionally has broken eyepiece lenses, which is also quite common for these.  $50 - $100

French WWI M1915 Adrian Helmet Lot: Artillery & Colonial Infantry

Two French WWI Mle. 1915 Adrian Helmets, first example has ~70% darker blue-gray horizon blue painted finish; obverse with a Colonial Infantry badge that clearly has been on this specific helmet since the Great War.  Interior has broken chinstrap and a black leather first pattern liner showing verdigris and textured residue that may be from an old display head.  Second example has 80% gray toned horizon blue finish, with black leather chinstrap looped over the brim.  Interior shows that the chinstrap is actually broken on one side, but enough remains to tuck it into the ring on the side.  Liner is very unusual and non-standard, which I believe to be a post-war collector's replacement.

$100 - $200

French WWI Adrian Helmet Lot: Five Helmets

Five French Model 1915 Adrian helmets in varying shades of horizon blue finish.  Includes Infantry, Colonial Infantry, Engineer, Chasseur, and Artillery examples.  All have liners; the Artillery helmet liner is a bit rough, but the other four are good.  Artillery and Chasseur helmets lack chinstraps; the others are complete with chinstrap. 

$500 - $700

French & Italian WWI Era Headgear Lot: Three Adrian Helmets, Two Kepis, & More

French headgear includes a Model 1915 Adrian helmet with Infantry badge, lacks liner, Artillery piped horizon blue wool sidecap, a (post-war) kepi with Infantry side buttons and bullion "94" unit numerals, and a civil service kepi of red wool with a light blue wool band and bullion trim which has a shattered visor and lacks sweatband, and is leaving a trail of 'hat guts' and other debris on my work table as though it had been mortally wounded in a box of Josh Segal's show stock and is crawling slowly away to die a more dignified death at a different booth.

Lot further includes two Adrians that appear to have been made under contract for Italy, as they are not pierced in the front for badges.  One has ~40% Italian dark green finish with oxidized patina and surface rust on the top of the crown where it has suffered a few noticeable dings and dents; interior has a collector or reenactor replacement liner.  The second of these is actually quite interesting - a WWI wartime contract French-made Italian Adrian that appears to have a very interesting and heavily textured camouflage finish.  I honestly can't decide if this is a really strange and intriguing camouflage, or if it was a smelly hippie's off-the-rails, (seemed like a good idea at the time?) art project... or perhaps someone decided to use an old surplus helmet as the test subject upon which they bestowed by strokes, drips, and blorps a sampling of the contents from every unmarked mystery can of decades-old leftover paint in a hoarder's garage.  That's the beauty of an auction - you get to decide!

$100 - $200

French WWI Era Military & Civil Headgear Mixed Lot: 3 Kepis, Cuirassier Helmet, & Officer's Sidecap

French Engineer Officer's polo pattern kepi has bullion chinstrap and Lieutenant's quatrefoil on the crown, obverse has "31" regimental numerals, and the sides have Engineer buttons.  Interior has a nice black silk lining and black leather sweatband with ribbon adjustment.  Second kepi is of dark blue wool with black wool velvet band, trimmed in bullion cord with black polished cotton lining and black leather sweatband.  Shows signs of a chinstrap and side buttons once being installed but those are no longer present.  Third kepi is of dark blue wool with red soutache trim, has French telegraph section side buttons and one in the center of a small cockade on the front.  Interior has a Paris uniform shop tradmark embossed in the crown lining.  Soft headgear also includes a private purchase horizon blue wool sidecap with silver bullion rank insignia in the front; interior has brown leather sweatband and very nice light and dark striped lavender silk crown lining. 

Model 1874 Cuirassier or Dragoon helmet has steel body with dark age toned finish, brass fittings throughout including; frontplate with flaming bomb insignia flanked by laurel leaves, high comb with Medusa head crest, with damage in this area exposing some poorly soldered  seams or poorly executed repairs.  Black horse hair plume has been cropped to about one inch in length.  A feather plume socket is on the left side,  side lug chinscale attachments and chinscales are lacking. Reverse of the exterior  size "55".  Interior has heavily worn leather liner and leather lined front visor. 

$200 - $400

French WWI Headgear Lot: Chasseurs Alpins Beret, Artillery Officer Sidecap, & Zouave Fez

Classic Chasseur Alpins 'tarte' oversized beret of midnight blue wool.  This example has a red grenade de bataillon insignia rather than the Chasseur hunting horn insignia.  Also has a brass faux bullion unit numeral "9".  The thick wool beret body has extensive moth tracking, and a dime size hole in the top along the edge.  The Artillery Officer Sidecap of horizon blue wool has red wool branch of service trim, with bullion soutache Chef de Bataillon rank insignia on the front.  Interior has blue silk sweatband that still bears the original paper size tag.  Zouave Fez is of thick red wool with some stains and light tracking; interior has brown leather sweatband with a legible issue stamp.  Several inches of stitching have given way and the lower edge is soiled from use as you would expect from normal service.  $200 - $300

French WWI M2 Gas Mask & Carrier

Model 1916 treated canvas and padded gauze gas mask has blue painted metal bezels for the amber isinglass eye lenses, both of which remain intact, and olive brown elastic head harness straps.  Brown gas-proof treated fabric remains pliable, and is marked with size "TAILLE ORDINAIRE" on the reverse side of one corner.  The black adhesive substance around the interior of the lenses that always remains slightly tacky even after 100 years has migrated to the lenses and mostly obscured them.  Carrier is heavily stained from the gas-proof treatment soaking through (as they nearly always are), and from field service.  Interior has pocket for an extra lens.  After trying many different experimental masks, the M2 was the backbone of the French gas protection efforts through the end of the war, remaining in service even after the German-style ARS was placed in service in 1918.  In addition to French troops, many of the first A.E.F. soldiers were issued M2 masks, and later the M2 was issued as reserve masks for front line troops.

$400 - $600

French WWI Tampon P Gas Mask Carrier With Gas Defense Goggles

29.5cm x 17cm (11-3/4" x 6-5/8") rectangular horizon blue treated fabric carrier has brown cloth interior and is divided into two compartments.  This closes with a flap and twill tape loops, and has brown twill tape attachment loops at either side.  Contains a set of gas defense goggles such with a brown rubberized fabric pad mounted by two metal eye bezels with isinglass lenses such as you see on the later M2 gas mask.  One of these lenses is intact, the other broken.  Interior has white felt lining and the sides have white twill tape attachment ties.  Lacks the chemically-treated fabric pad mask portion of this lashup.

Issued to French soldiers from late 1915, the Tampon P (“Pad P”) was a chemically-treated fabric pad intended to protect against chlorine gas attack. The second version carrier introduced a dedicated compartment for gas defense goggles, reflecting evolving threat conditions and the importance of full facial protection. This equipment remained in primary service through early 1916 until more advanced mask designs supplanted it. In April 1916, the Tampon P and its variations—including the Tampon TN—were phased out and replaced by the French M2 gas mask, which offered enhanced protection, durability, and improved vision for soldiers exposed to a wide range of chemical weapons. The M2, initially produced with a single rectangular viewing piece, was upgraded to two circular eyepieces and saw widespread use with French, American, British, and other Allied troops until late in World War I.

$500 - $700

Italian WWI French Made Adrian Helmet

M1915 French supplied Adrian helmet retains 70% dark Italian gray-green painted finish blending with patina where worn. The obverse of the body has never been pierced for a badge as is correct for the Italian contract helmets. Interior complete with an Italian made brown leather second pattern lining with interesting brown, blue, and white scrap woven wool material for the liner backing, and a leather chinstrap with buckle closure.  A very nice example of a WWI Italian helmet which, because it has no stenciled insignia, can be displayed with any uniform.

$200 - $300

Imperial Russian Display Headgear Lot

Includes a cossack papakha with diminutive orange and black oval cockade and brass Imperial Russian bicephalic eagle insignia.  White crown has yellow lace trim, sides bounded in black fur; interior has black velvet band and wine red velvet crown and body lining.  It is our assessment that this is more than likely a papakha made as a quality prop for a traditional cossack dance troupe rather than an original Imperial era item.

Second item is an early Soviet era peasant's soft visor cap, of khaki linen, displaying an original Imperial enlisted cockade on the front.  Interior has an unmarked white cotton lining and a very 1930's Soviet faux leather sweatband.  It is interesting as a period civilian hat, and functions well enough as a display analog for the Model 1907 furashka on a mannequin.

$100 - $200