Andrew
Well-Known Member
After a 2.5 month wait this interesting RCAF Irvin has finally arrived. I bought it back in May and I have to say i'm surprised that none of you Canadians bid on it as it would have been good to stay at home and I think it's pretty special. I'll look after it until it does go back anyway.
Bill, wasn't your Dad and AG?
It is rare for any Irvin to have artwork on them which is why I bought this one, and a careful study suggests the painting is original although anything can be faked I guess. I reckon it's the real deal- the style of work is very understated and it doesn't look like new paint. It's a nice touch and it's a shame more weren't decorated like this.
It's labelled but as it's a generic type for all sizes the marking has faded away, but it's pretty big, i'd say it's a size 5 (I wear a 48 A-2), so it has me wondering which of the AG's would have worn it, even though they were worn under service dress- surely not a tail gunner. Made in 1944 it has relatively few panels, but it is made primarily from darker brownish fleeces- not black but certainly dark brown in parts, particularly deep into the pile. The collar and cuffs have been trimmed with the better quality shorter pile pale fleece. Fantastic colours.
The main zip pull looks to me to have come off a sidcot as it has a fabric puller and it's nickle plated, not brass. I can't see where they put it on, but the main zip itself doesn't appear to have been replaced. the sleeves are both original lightnings.
It's the first i've had one with a leather hanging strap as well. I wonder if any of this points to a Canadian made item- it's been speculated in the past that they were perhaps also made there.
In all a fantastic jacket, pretty cheap, it's only flaw is a repair to the top right shoulder blade area where the late War leather has become brittle and someone's fixed it from the inside with chamois patches. Not to my liking especially as it wasn't described, but the rest outweighs this for the time being.
Bill, wasn't your Dad and AG?
It is rare for any Irvin to have artwork on them which is why I bought this one, and a careful study suggests the painting is original although anything can be faked I guess. I reckon it's the real deal- the style of work is very understated and it doesn't look like new paint. It's a nice touch and it's a shame more weren't decorated like this.
It's labelled but as it's a generic type for all sizes the marking has faded away, but it's pretty big, i'd say it's a size 5 (I wear a 48 A-2), so it has me wondering which of the AG's would have worn it, even though they were worn under service dress- surely not a tail gunner. Made in 1944 it has relatively few panels, but it is made primarily from darker brownish fleeces- not black but certainly dark brown in parts, particularly deep into the pile. The collar and cuffs have been trimmed with the better quality shorter pile pale fleece. Fantastic colours.
The main zip pull looks to me to have come off a sidcot as it has a fabric puller and it's nickle plated, not brass. I can't see where they put it on, but the main zip itself doesn't appear to have been replaced. the sleeves are both original lightnings.
It's the first i've had one with a leather hanging strap as well. I wonder if any of this points to a Canadian made item- it's been speculated in the past that they were perhaps also made there.
In all a fantastic jacket, pretty cheap, it's only flaw is a repair to the top right shoulder blade area where the late War leather has become brittle and someone's fixed it from the inside with chamois patches. Not to my liking especially as it wasn't described, but the rest outweighs this for the time being.
