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Post by kingkaiser on Feb 15, 2012 18:24:32 GMT -8
News alert! Hessen now has gas masks!
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Post by oskar2ndchev on Feb 17, 2012 6:40:52 GMT -8
Here's what they look like:  For more information: www.hessenantique.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=HAIGE064Assuming that it's a decent reproduction (hard to tell from the picture alone), the price is decent although you still have to get the can to carry it in. It would be nice if someone would make the later model leather version- that's really what we would have had by the 1917-18 time frame, for the most part. But hey, nice to see that someone's making the effort.  |
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Post by oskar2ndchev on Feb 17, 2012 6:49:49 GMT -8
And for comparison, here's Schipper's:  |
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Post by muddhen on Feb 18, 2012 10:53:40 GMT -8
i took my shipper mask and compared them, they look identical except for the color of the filter,which could just be the photo, i've compared several pieces of leather gear,side by side in my hands, and they also appear the same. i assume they get some of their gear from the same maker. uniforming is obviously different but much of the equipment looks the same,usually about 20% cheaper. and since hessen has lost ant z as their maker who knows what their new uniforms will look like
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Post by oskar2ndchev on Feb 18, 2012 15:38:11 GMT -8
IMHO, ANT-Z seemed to have been interested in trying to corner the market by flooding it with cheap product, then discovered that the demand wasn't that great (compared to the normal garment market), and then dropped it like a hot potato when it became clear that it wasn't going to take off. I kind of wondered why they were churning out all manner of uniforms even though there really didn't appear to be much of a market (how many reenactment units with Uhlans do you see out there?). Just a theory.... :-)
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Post by kingkaiser on Feb 19, 2012 0:27:28 GMT -8
IMHO, ANT-Z seemed to have been interested in trying to corner the market by flooding it with cheap product, then discovered that the demand wasn't that great (compared to the normal garment market), and then dropped it like a hot potato when it became clear that it wasn't going to take off. I kind of wondered why they were churning out all manner of uniforms even though there really didn't appear to be much of a market (how many reenactment units with Uhlans do you see out there?). Just a theory.... :-) Maybe ANT-Z thought that they could sell their products to movie/theater costumers, museums, and collectors? Just another theory. |
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Post by oskar2ndchev on Feb 19, 2012 7:11:24 GMT -8
The guy probably thought that he was going to make the "big score" with WWI movies like "Warhorse" being made and the Centennial of WWI coming up. I think he seriously mis-judged the market although he bailed before things had a chance- I think he was in business for maybe a year or so, tops. :-)
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Post by riflecpl on Feb 23, 2012 20:14:58 GMT -8
The eye pieces are wrong on the Hessen model. So you have to ask yourself if an extra $40 is worth it to you to have it be 100% correct.
The very first project that Schipperfabrik did was the leather mask. Now granted, there was a huge learning curve in getting it reproduced (2001 time frame) but when it did come out, the only thing people could seem to do was bitch about it. Nevermind the fact that it was the first project out of the chute. I don't see that project happening anytime soon.
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Post by oskar2ndchev on Feb 23, 2012 21:40:55 GMT -8
Since I don't have an original Gummimask, I'll leave that debate to others. However, I have two of the early Schipper leather masks and while a little finishing work was necessary (it was pretty easy), they've worked out fine. I'd like to see the leather mask go back into production because that's really what we should be wearing.
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Post by riflecpl on Feb 23, 2012 22:27:04 GMT -8
Adam, yes there was quite a bit of finishing work that needed to be done to those leather masks but Schip did it to the best he could. Several of them just couldn't be fixed and were a loss (too much "pleather") Trying to get them into the country, keep in mind this was after 9/11, through customs was a challenge too. Its a great beer story though. LOL
ANT-Z decided there was more money in women's clothing...which is probably true. They are moving on into generic clothing now.
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Post by oskar2ndchev on Feb 24, 2012 6:28:48 GMT -8
I remember- it was tough getting those masks finished. The finishing work on my part wasn't anything major and took maybe about an hour or so. Wasn't a big deal.  ANT-Z decided there was more money in women's clothing...which is probably true. They are moving on into generic clothing now. I'm surprised how long it took for them to come to that conclusion. :-) |
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Post by kingkaiser on Mar 6, 2012 18:22:39 GMT -8
The eye pieces are wrong on the Hessen model. I'm not that well versed on the Gummimaske. Can anyone point out why the eye pieces are wrong on the Hessen model? From the photos, to my eye, they look identical. I do know that there were two or three versions of the Gummimaske, each version supposedly an improvement on its predecessor. Is it possible that these two reproductions are of two different models?----that might account for the differences in the eye pieces. |
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