In addition to the front plate, metal trim for the spiked helmet included front visor trim, base-spike unit, plume trichters (mounts) for parade, spike base retainers, back spine, chinstrap with M91 mount and chinscales with rosette or leather chinstrap, and enameled cockades. All trim was made of stamped (not cast) brass, German silver or tombak (for Guards Regt.s). Issue quality trim was highly polished and usually lacquered. Officer's trims, especially front plates, were fire gilded (or frosted in the case of silver front plates).
The cockades were mounted behind the chinstrap or chinscale. The red/white/black REICHS cockade, introduced in 1897, was on the right side of the helmet. The NATIONAL cockade displayed the distinct state colors and was mounted on the left side of the helmet. Cockades exhibited several forms and contours depending on the state, rank and manufacture date. Officer's cockades were usually made in two pieces and approximately 6.5 cm. Cockades for enlisted troops were flat stamped and enameled with a diameter of 4.5 cm.
purchase versus issued helmets. They include:
Visor Trim: Visor trim approx. .6 cm wide.
Spike/Base Officer has higher profile with"pearl and diamond" ornamentation at base*. Eight pointed star retainers to affix base to helmet body*.
Trichter/: Formed like an elongated Plume spike and approx . 12 cm tall. Plume made of buffalo hair.
Formed like a tube extending from top of the base and approx. 10 cm tall. Plume made of horse hair.
Back Spine Spine ribbed along edge*.
with movable cover*.
Chinstrap Chinscales with push through rosette. Flat scales for troops of foot. Rounded for mounted troops.*
Cockades Usually 2 piece construction. (several exceptions)
*Excluding Hessen pattern helmets.
