ZARP helmet / plate?
 

Dear Forummers,
I have been offered this as a ZARP helmet and plate.
Anyone have a view as to authenticity? I am inclined to think the khaki cover is not originally part of this, and that it should have either a white dome ventilator button or a silvered spike; what about the rest of it?

Attachment 115115

Attachment 115116

Attachment 115117
(I CANNOT REMEMBER WHO GAVE ME A COPY OF THIS PHOTO)

ZARP “BRITISH COLONIAL PATTERN” HELMET
"In June of 1877, a white helmet was authorized by the British authorities for use and wear throughout the Empire. It is this pattern helmet that was adopted and uses by the ZARPs. Known as the Foreign Service helmet, the helmet was made of cork covered in white cloth with six panels. Peaks and sides were bound in white cloth. The spike is fitted into an acanthus leaf base. The spike, chin scales and helmet plate are all made of white metal. This specific helmet plate was worn prior to 1901 and, according to Curzon, was worn on “a white helmet by Foot Police”. Several manufacturers produced these helmets so “subtle” differences in design do exist."

This is the helmet in my collection. The caption forms part of a display I prepared a while ago.

Hope this helps?

Regards,

Will

Attachment 115118

Attachment 115119

This photograph is a recent acquisition.

This is the tunic that is shown in the photograph and this pattern was worn with the white helmet as indicated in the photograph.

ZARP
 

I have had this photo sent of the reverse of the helmet plate. Too new to be true?
Are fakes of these ZARP badges known to exist?
I see one is on BidorBuy at present.

hi rob
i am no expert but to me it all looks ok. if the badge has been on the helmet for 100yrs then why wouldnt the back of it look newish?
bc

I think you are right. A faker would not be so clever as to gild a badge and then leave the reverse bright. Generally, things get distressed front and back.
(As the actress said to the Bishop)
I suppose it comes down to this: if there is one fake ZARP helmet plate, then there is a batch of fakes. And this forum would know, since this is a niche market. If no batch of fakes is known, then this one is pukka. And since the back is bright, the badge and a backing, such as a helmet, have been united for 100+ years...
Thank heavens I don't collect Nazi stuff where there are fakes, sons of fakes, and old fakes.

This specific badge does appear more often on the market and for some reason it seems to be the easier one to find but these items have become exceedingly rare and very well sought after.

I am not sure what the price is for the helmet but I think it would be worth buying it.

I would say, from the photograph, that is okay.

Thanks, Frank and SA brigade - your input is very reassuring - I will buy this ZARP helmet, and there are also several other indicators that it is 100% correct.
Rob

Thanks for photos
 

Those scans are much appreciated. Any staats arty or ZARP pictures are very scarce.
It appears that the corporal pictured by Sabrigade has the letter R on his collar and what I always assumed was the officer pattern belt buckle.
I also agree that the helmet is OK: a very nice find!

More ZARP photos
 

Here are a few which I have had sent to me.

Superb photos!
 

Thanks for the ZARP scans. There must be some quality Staats Arty uniform pictures out there somewhere but I have not seen them. I did get an original photo album of the Irene Burgher Camp 1902 from the estate of an Australian civilian nurse but the pictures were mainly women and children and the tent city, no uniformed Boers of course.
I donated the album to the Bloemfontein Museum because I thought the civilian photos would be of historical importance to their descendants. Sadly I never got any thanks or acknowledgement and don't even know if the album got there. I did keep photocopies but the quality is not good (originals faded).

ZARPs
 

Johannesburg Police, armed with 303s captured from Jameson raiders.

Kingsley, to get pictures of Staatsartillerie, you can do no better than to make contact with MC Heunis. If you don't have his email, contact me.

The bugler seems to have taken up a rather strange position for this photograph. Do you think he’s got a touch of wind or do you think he just plays better from down there?

Regards,

Zob.

Zob

I can see this de-generating into something else very soon;)

Nice to see these by the way, I wish I had now kept my ZARP Badge passed on a few years back.

Brian