IMPERIAL GERMAN FLYING HELMET ?

[QSAMIKE]

Good Morning Everyone

I picked this helmet / hat up during my last European trip..... I have not done anything with it as I was not exactly sure at to what it was, that is officially..... I have shown it to several collectors and the majority think that it may be a World War One, German, Flying Helmet.....

I am posting it here to find out what your opinions may be.....

To answer some questions in advance:

1. There are no markings of any kind inside or outside that I can find but there may have been a label inside at one time....

2. The only named item are the snaps, they are made by a company called "STOCKO" which I understand was founded in Germany in 1901 for the manufacture of hollow rivets, eyelets, press fasteners and metal buttons.

Therefor the helmet / hat has some parts that could have been made during or even before the World War One period.....

So I am going to throw it out to everyone for their comments and opinions......

Oh yes I do understand that there are copies but with the wear and the fastenings I do not think this is a copy.....

Mike

[Odulf]

Hard to say...

I have seen many of these on the flea markets, for sale for pennies, as these leather caps were used by motor cyclists and moped drivers (in combination with a tough leather over coat) until the late 1960's.

My gandfather had one quite similar - before crash helmets became the custom in the 60s - and he sure was not a pilot.

[Rogi]

Does it say Sokolo and or Socko on the button ?

I can't read what it makes out on the button

If it is Sokolo we used to have motorcycle and pilot helmets in Yugoslavia from that producer.

Edited December 3, 2013 by Rogi

[QSAMIKE]

Hi Roji......

It is named STOCKO..... I googled the name and read the company history and it was founded in Wuppertal in 1901....

Mike

[QSAMIKE]

Hi Odulf......

The location that I purchased this had a large number of WW1 German, Austrian and French uniforms, medals, badges and helmets......

Mike

[Chris Boonzaier]

It is a very hard call... I agree that these are all over in Germany, I also picked one up at a flea market, but they were mainly used on Bikes, open cars etc. etc.

I assume flyers had something similar, but how to tell which model was used by pilots, and which model was used by Uncle Hans to drive his car in 1923?

[Hoss]

I favour the one fashioned by Adolf

Often wondered if he went clothes shopping like a normal person.

Eric