Saving a historical masterpiece: Firefighter's helmet shines again!

Saving a historical masterpiece: Firefighter's helmet shines again!

On April 25, 2025, a remarkable restored fire helmet from the 19th century was presented to the Ernsthofen Volunteer Fire Department (FF). Peter Greßl, the district clerk for fire department history in Amstetten, received the helmet from Josef Fuchsberger, the commander of the FF Ernsthofen, at the end of February. The helmet was in a dilapidated condition: bent, dented and an important piece of oak leaves was missing.

In an impressive restoration work, Greßl dedicated more than 50 hours of work to refurbishing the helmet. He disassembled the piece, straightened the helmet shell, removed dents and returned the missing bay leaf. The elaborate manual work also included polishing the brass parts and the helmet shell so that the helmet shines in a new shine. Shortly before the festive event to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the FF Ernsthofen, the restored piece was returned to Fuchsberger.

A place of honor for historical pieces

The commander promised not to wear the helmet during operations, but instead to create a place of honor at the FF Ernsthofen. The impressive piece will not only be a reminder of the history of the fire department, but also a highlight of the upcoming celebrations.

Greßl's restoration project will be accessible to visitors during the celebrations of the FF Ernsthofen's 125th anniversary and is intended to promote interest in the history of the fire service.

Fire service history and its significance

In a related context, the 10th fire department history seminar of the German Fire Department Association (DFV) recently took place in the German Fire Department Museum in Fulda. This event highlights the influence of hand-held fire engines on firefighting over the centuries. A highlight was the demonstration of a historic hand-held fire engine from 1884 by the Künzell-Bachrain Volunteer Fire Department.

The seminar included nine specialist lectures covering topics such as historical heritage, restoration and hand-held fire spraying competitions. DFV Vice President Frank Hachemer emphasized the need to deal with one's own history. The next seminar is planned for March 14, 2026, with the topic “Fire departments in the Weimar Republic”.

The exciting connection between the past and today's fire service practice shows how important it is to preserve historical artifacts and their stories. This preservation not only promotes respect for heritage but also inspires future generations.