Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This is an excellent example of a World War One bring back trophy helmet which was sent home as a souvenir by Sgt Elsie T. Skinner of the 47th Aero Squadron, A.E.F. The helmet was sent home through the mail, with the helmet being sent to his father back in Indiana.
Painted on the left side:

To- George W. Skinner
Route “B”
Richmond, Indiana, USA
 
On the opposite side it has scratched into the paint:

To- George W. Skinner
Route “B”
Richmond, Indiana, USA
 
This is a nice battlefield pick up example of a completely  original and untouched WWI German M-1916 Helmet shell which is complete . The helmet is marked “B.F.62” indicating that this helmet was made by the firm of F.C. Bellinger of Fulda. The helmet still has both of the dome headed chinstrap retaining rivets, which hold the interior pickelhaube style chin strap lugs in place. The shell also retains both of the extended ventilation side lugs, which are the correct version with a step for the size 62 shell. This would ensure proper installation of a Stirnpanzer brow plate regardless of shell size.
 
Of note are the names written in the inside rear skirt of the helmet of the German soldiers which this helmet was once issued, and reissued to. Two names are crossed out, indicating who the helmet was once issued to, with the most current German soldier whom the helmet was issued “Uffz (Unteroffizier) Schenkle”, Kan.(Kanonier-cannonier) Klebe (crossed out), and Kan. Bocker”. It is hard to find one German helmet with the soldier’s name written inside, let alone three!
 
All three of the liner split pins are present securing the original leather banded early pattern M-1916 liner. Half of the original chinstrap is in place as well. One liner cushion is still in place.
 
History of the M16 Helmet
The Stahlhelm was introduced into regular service during the Verdun campaign in early 1916.
The M1916 design had side-mounted horn-like ventilator lugs which were intended to be support for an additional steel brow plate or Stirnpanzer, which only ever saw limited use by snipers and trench raiding parties, as it was too heavy for general use.
The shell came in different sizes, from 60 to 68, with some size 70s reported. The suspension, or liner, consisted of a headband with three segmented leather pouches, each holding padding materials, and leather or fabric cords could be adjusted to provide a comfortable fit. The one-piece leather chinstrap was attached to the shell by M1891 chinstrap lugs, the same kind used in the Pickelhaube helmet.

The M1916 design provided excellent protection: Reserve Lieutenant Walter Schulze of 8th Company Reserve Infantry Regiment 76 described his combat introduction to the helmet on the Somme, 29 July 1916: "... suddenly, with a great clanging thud, I was hit on the forehead and knocked flying onto the floor of the trench... a shrapnel bullet had hit my helmet with great violence, without piercing it, but sufficiently hard to dent it. If I had, as had been usual up until a few days previously, been wearing a cap, then the Regiment would have had one more man killed."
But the helmet was not without its flaws. The ventilator horns often let cold air in during the winter, requiring the wearer to block the vents with mud or fabric. The large, flared skirt tended to make it difficult for soldiers to hear, distorting surrounding sounds and creating an echo when the wearer spoke.

Originally painted Feldgrau (field grey), the Stahlhelm was often camouflaged by troops in the field using mud, foliage, cloth covers, and paint. Official issue cloth covers in white and grey appeared in late 1916 and early 1917. Camouflage paint was not formally introduced until July 1918, when German Army Order II, No 91 366, signed by General Erich Ludendorff on 7 July 1918, outlined official standards for helmet camouflage. The order stipulated that helmets should be painted in several colors, separated by a finger-wide black line. The colors should be relevant to the season, such as using green, brown and ocher in summer.

After the effectiveness of the M1916 design was validated during the 1916 campaigns, incremental improvements were subsequently made.