• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

My first jacket project

kevlarg

New Member
Hello everybody. I am new to the forum here.

I have recently bought what i believe is a M-422a jacket. The spec tag is missing but it has the assymetrical pocket deal on the front of the jacket. There is a black US stenciled underneath the collar.

Ok so this puppy basically needs it all. A new mouton collar, new cuffs and waistband, zipper pull is missing (althought zipper works but I'm not sure if it is original it looks like a 50's talon) and the liner is not in great shape. What I want to do is replace the cuffs and waistband and possibly the collar if it is not too pricey. I have not done this before and have only been able to locate some replacement waistbands and some cuffs (that don't look correct to me).

So I turn it to you, those who have done this before. Where do i get the parts? Where do I get the work done (I live in NYC)? How much should I be prepared to spend (I got the jacket for $25)?

Thanks!

Kevin
 

dujardin

Well-Known Member
hello Kevin,

welcome aboard this funny and sympatic family.
if you may, place some photos, it help a lot.
you may use PHOTOBUCKET , don't hesitate, it's free.
i'm not specialist enough to give you answer so just wait some little time and for sure you will get answer.

again welcome aboard

byeeeeeeee marcel
 

kevlarg

New Member
dujardin said:
hello Kevin,

welcome aboard this funny and sympatic family.
if you may, place some photos, it help a lot.
you may use PHOTOBUCKET , don't hesitate, it's free.
i'm not specialist enough to give you answer so just wait some little time and for sure you will get answer.

again welcome aboard

byeeeeeeee marcel

Thanks Marcel.

I will post some photos when I get a chance to take some. I also forgot to mention that inside the map pocket there is an ink stamping that reads "A.F."

edit: here are some pics from the Ebay listing.

743b_12.JPG
7a12_12.JPG

75cf_12.JPG
792e_12.JPG
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Nice Jacket Kev. Flightsuits G/B will sell you all the things you need, knits, mouton collar, zip and liner. Their zips are not NOS authentic but they look the part and last. Then find a leather tailor. I know USAuthentic would do the work for you, he is in NY.
 

kevlarg

New Member
wing nut said:
Nice Jacket Kev. Flightsuits G/B will sell you all the things you need, knits, mouton collar, zip and liner. Their zips are not NOS authentic but they look the part and last. Then find a leather tailor. I know USAuthentic would do the work for you, he is in NY.

Thanks Wing Nut!
 

kevlarg

New Member
Ok so I have most of the parts that I need except for the zipper portion. The original zipper is a Talon but different than those WW2 talons you see on the A-2's and such. Based on what I have been told I have an AN-J-3A jacket. This zipper is black coated brass and the box fixing at the bottom is a folded "u-shaped" piece of brass and not that pork chop shaped solid box. The zipper works perfectly and is not frayed anywhere. The puller is missing from the slider. Is it possible to attach a new puller to my existing zipper? If so what would be appropriate? There is no spec tag on the jacket so I don't know the maker. Anyone else own one of these to point me in the right direction?

Thanks!

Kevin
 

bazelot

Well-Known Member
Don't replace the tracks. Just get an original Talon pull from Ebay and remove the over one. It will take you 2 minutes to do. All you need to do is remove the little clasp on top of the zipper with pliers, remove the old pull by pull it all the way up, slide the new one in, put the clasp back on and voila... you are done.
Your jacket is an AN6552 and it looks like it is a Willis and Geiger.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Thats going to be a hell of a nice jacket once you fix her up. Please post some pics after its done!
 

kevlarg

New Member
Ok first step done! My friend gave me a talon slider correct for my jacket and I put it on. It works like a charm! I am going to start removing what is left of the cuffs now and prepare to try my hand at stitching the new ones in by hand. Wish me luck!
 

bazelot

Well-Known Member
kevlarg said:
Ok first step done! My friend gave me a talon slider correct for my jacket and I put it on. It works like a charm! I am going to start removing what is left of the cuffs now and prepare to try my hand at stitching the new ones in by hand. Wish me luck!

Any news on the jacket front? I think your jacket is an AN6552. The tracks seem to be correct for this type of contract. A picture of the zipper box would help.
This is what the zipper should look like:

week151a.jpg
 
Top