Prussian "Zahlmeister" (Paymaster) Officers Pickelhaube

Prussian Zahlmeister (Paymaster) Officer Model 1897  (*see below). Just found at the Max Show in York, PA.  The helmet is the standard black Lacquered leather helmet body with all silver metal trim. Helmet body in excellent condition with firm stitching.  Exterior lacquer is matte with age but still is shiny.  No extra holes in helmet body.  Interior has sweat leather and silk headliner.  Inner visors red and green as is normal for officer helmets.  All metal trim is silver.  The frontplate for the helmet is the Line Prussian  Eagle with  “Vaterlands” Banner with a small  gold “Beamten” eagle on  the large eagles tail.  The helmet  has a  Standard Officer spike  and base that is  secured to the helmet body with domed studs.  Rounded silver chinscales on rosettes.  Officer Reichs and Prussian cockades. Outstanding helmet.  Quite rare as there were only 2 Zahlmeisters to each regiment.

* The Paymasters of the Army, (German = Oberezahlmeister (Senior Paymaster),Zahlmeister (Paymaster) and Unterzahlmeister (Junior Paymaster) were Regular Armysoldiers.  These soldiers were posted to each regiment’s staff.  They wore the standard uniform of that regiment, but the helmet was differed from the standard helmet worn by soldiers of the Regiment.  The  Zahlmeister wore a helmet with all silver metal trim, a round front visor trim and round spike base with smooth spike.  The helmet had domed studs instead of stars at the base. The frontplate was the Prussian Line Eagle with bandeau for Prussia and a small gold Prussian Eagle (Beamte Abzeichen style) on the large eagle's tail.  (from  das Deutsche Heer)

(Ref. AoK)