German Visor Hat from Constantinople

[Naxos]

I recently acquired an Imperial visor hat. When I inspected the hat I found a folded piece of paper inside the sweat band. The paper was folded and inserted in the front of the sweat band to fit the hat better to the head of the wearer. I noticed some writing on it, so I carefully unfolded the paper.

Edited November 11, 2014 by Naxos

[Stuka f]

Interesting!

If it could only speak.....

cheers

|<ris

[Chris Boonzaier]

That is indeed a lucky find! an indeed... if only it could speak!!!!

[Naxos]

I thought the same thing.

... but there is more to it. Not only was the hat in Constantinople - It was actually made there. Inside the hat is a makers stamp that reads:

Erste Mützenfabrik des Orients

mit elektrischem Kraftbetrieb

OSTROW

Konstantinopol

[IrishGunner]

A find like that is what collecting is all about...

[Naxos]

I agree - Thanks Rick

[Stuka f]

I have a quiet similar thing in my collection, that will puzzle me till the end of my days.

Well similar..... the only similarity is that a headdress also had a fold newspaper behind the sweatband, .....that speaks in a certain way.....

Here is the story; from the same house clearing in Antwerp, came a German officers pickelhaube and a named British War Medal for WWI given to a Belgian lady agent.

The newspaper is Dutch and one of the articles on the page treats about a spy story going on in Antwerp.......

I didn't do the house clearing my self, and don't know the exact provenance, so no way to speak to any witness....

cheers

|<ris

[Hoss]

Interesting and nice cap looks in very nice condition.

Eric

[Naxos]

Thanks Eric! I will take better pictures and post them later

Edited November 12, 2014 by Naxos