Germany, Schutzpolizei. A Motorized Gendarmerie Motorcycle Crash Helmet, by Robert Lubstein

(Sturzhelm für Gendarmerie Kradschützen). This is a well-preserved Motorized Gendarmerie motorcycle crash helmet, constructed of a brown-painted reinforced vulcanfibre shell. The helmet is fully surrounded by a padded leather bar along the lower circumference, providing additional protection for the wearer. It is flanked on each side by ventilation holes, reinforced with a non-ferrous metal eyelets with mesh screens. Securely pinned to the peak of the helmet is an aluminum insignia in the form of a semi-circular oak leaf wreath overlaid by a German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika. The eagle insignia measures 100 mm (w) x 60 mm (h). The exterior features are completed by a protruding boiled leather visor, painted brown on the obverse and green on the reverse. A black pressed leather liner fully encompasses the interior, with the side walls bearing a partial padded leather ring. Affixed to the ring is a light brown leather sweatband, bearing an array of ventilation holes near the forehead. The sweatband features nine integrated fingers, each perforated by six holes. Also emanating from the sweatband is an additional fold-down dark brown leather flap providing partial ear and neck protection for the wearer. An integrated two-piece chin strap descends from the flap, adjusted with magnetic metal buckles meeting eight eyelets for a customizable fit. Stitched onto the crown is a maker’s label reading “ROBER LUBSTEIN, BERLIN”, with an additional “EREL” mark. A size stamp of “56 ½” is also visible to the frontal sweatband finger. The helmet measures 225 mm (w) x 285 mm (l) x 130 mm (h). Scratching and material fatigue consistent with age and field use is evident to both the leather and vulcanfibre features, but the helmet is in an overall near extremely fine condition.