GUEST: This is a helmet from the early 1800s. My grandmother, she passed this down to me, and we believe this belonged to my fifth great-grandfather. He was a captain in the 14th Infantry. And that's about all we know about it.
APPRAISER: It's a wonderful example of an early Federal Period militia cap. This would have been from the early 19th century, possibly around the War of 1812, but even after that, militia companies would use a type of cap like this. If you notice on the front plate, it has "14th Regiment" and "Light Infantry." It's got this wonderful eagle and stars. He was in the 14th Regiment Militia...
GUEST: In Connecticut.
APPRAISER: And that was the state of Connecticut?
GUEST: Correct.
APPRAISER: If we look at the side... It's got this tin crest, which is also painted in a... what's supposed to be like a tin pom-pom. It's got a wonderful painted band around the side. If we carefully flip it over... You can see some of the liner is still intact. It looks to be cotton or linen, it's all hand-sewn as would have been done in the period. And it's interesting that this much survives, because a lot of times from sweat, this would be completely removed. These are very nice and fairly popular right now. I would put an auction estimate on it at $13,000 to $15,000.
GUEST: Wow... wow... That's... that's good.
APPRAISER: The market used to be a little stronger on these. A few years back they were probably double that. But, still, that's pretty darn good price.
GUEST: Oh, that's great.