Guide to build a Pickelhaube-Stand
In this article I would like to shed some light on the not unimportant Pickelhaube-Stand.
I use the following materials for my Helmet-Stands (April 2021):
- Dimono® storage jar with a bamboo lid, 0.7 liters for 10.90€ (Link: Amazon.de)
- Foam 1 (DDBA010 - 36 cm x 26 cm, 1 cm thickness , acid-free, chlorine-free, CFC-free) for 1.79€ (Link: Feldherr.com)
- Foam 2 (AUBA015 - 29.5 cm x 14.5 cm, 1.5 cm thickness, acid-free, chlorine-free, CFC-free) for 0.99€ (Link: Feldherr.com)
- Foam 3 (ABBA005 - 30 cm x 30 cm, 0.5 cm thickness, acid-free, chlorine-free, CFC-free) for 0.99€ (Link: Feldherr.com)
I use storage jars with a diameter of 9 cm and a height of 15 cm as Helmet-Stands, you can buy these in many places. Of course, you can use other containers as well, but the advantage of glass is that it doesn't evaporate or react with the helmet. The diameter should be slightly larger than the Spikebase, to prevent the Leather-body from sinking in.
Two layers of chlorine-free, acid-free and CFC-free foams should be placed inside the Pickelhaube. As same like the Glass, the foams do not have to react with the very sensitive materials of the Helmet. The 1st layer is 1 cm or 1.5 cm thick and cut into an oval following the shape of the Helmet-body. Put it between the Leather shell and the Silk fabric of the Liner. The thickness of the foam depends on the size of the Helmet. The Sticks inside the Liner should slightly touch the foam when the Helmet is on the Stand, to avoid tensions in the Liner. This thicker Layer of foam supports the Leather-body and prevents deformations caused by the hard edge of the Glass.
Put a 2nd patch of a 0.5mm thick foam of the same quality between the Liner and the Glass. This is to protect the sensitive Silk fabric from damages through the glass bottom (please prevent wrinkles in the fabric when putting down the Helmet).
The transparent Stand takes a back seat on the shelf and puts the spiked Helmet in the right light. But as I wrote before, it is more important that the Helmet is well supported on the shelf and that it doesn’t react with the sensitive materials of the Pickelhaube. After more than 100 years, the Helmet no longer protects anyone but has become an object in need of protection.
Enjoy collecting 🙏🏼🙂