Germany, Feuerschutzpolizei. An EM/NCO’s Visor cap, by Martin Ruhland

(Schirmmütze für Männer der Feuerschutzpolizei). A Feuerschutzpolizei (Fire Protection Police) EM/NCO’s visor cap, constructed of dark navy blue wool. The cap features reinforced side walls, fully lined on the exterior with a black doeskin wool cap band. Both the top and bottom edges of the cap band are trimmed with rose-pink wool piping, while an additional band of identical piping trims the outer edge of the crown. Pinned onto the peak of the cap is a tri-colour aluminum cockade with a red wool centrepiece, measuring 24 mm in diameter. Directly underneath the cockade, the centre of the cap band is pinned with an an aluminum Ordnungspolizei insignia consisting of an oval oak leaf wreath, overlaid by a German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika. The eagle insignia measures 58 mm (w) x 45 mm (h). Each side of the cap band is pinned with a blackened magnetic metal rivet, in turn securing in place a multi-piece black leatherette chinstrap. Adjusted with dual functional blackened magnetic metal buckles, the chinstrap rests upon a protruding vulcanfibre visor when not in use. The visor is finished in black on the obverse, and in a matte brown on the reverse. A brown leather sweatband surrounds the circumference of the side walls, and measures 45 mm in width. The interior is fully encompassed by a brown rayon-blended liner, with the crown retaining a transparent plastic rhomboid moisture guard. The guard retains a fully-intact maker’s mark of “MARTIN RUHLAND, PFARRKIRCHEN”, indicating a privately-purchased example from an uncommon manufacturer. The internal spring formerly maintaining the crown’s structural integrity has been removed, giving the cap a fatigued appearance. It measures approximately 220 mm (w) x 255 mm (l) x 160 mm (h). Issues consistent with age and use are evident, and include moderate mothing to the piping with additional minor fatigue to the wool structure and visor, as well as deterioration of the sweatband and soiling to the interior liner. The cap is in an overall very fine condition.