Seal Brown??

[bellumbill]

Hello all! I am curious, of the WWII contract A2s was there are particular maker that is known or seen to have made jackets more than others in the darker seal brown color? Of did all makers produce jackets in seal brown at times?

I am looking to purchase another reproduction A2 and would like a seal brown leather but don't want to purchase a contract jacket that perhaps never made a seal brown HH version.

Thank you all!
Best,
Bill K.

 

[Silver Surfer]

most, but not all star a-2s were in a darker [seal] brown. a-2s that were sent to aaf depots to be refurbished later than 1942 were re colored in seal brown.

 

[mulceber]

Thing to remember, as has been pointed out elsewhere, the seal/russet distinction is kind of a myth. A-2 jackets were meant to be a medium brown. In practice, that meant a whole range of shades, but the dark brown we think of as seal was pretty uncommon, outside of depot re-dyed jackets. Most of the originals that are deemed "seal" were a milk chocolate brown.

 

[Dany McDonald]

Hello Bill,

Aero 21996 jackets were produced in a dark brown from the start, not a redeye done later.

Hope this bit of info helps in your search/choice.

D

 

[bellumbill]

Thing to remember, as has been pointed out elsewhere, the seal/russet distinction is kind of a myth. A-2 jackets were meant to be a medium brown. In practice, that meant a whole range of shades, but the dark brown we think of as seal was pretty uncommon, outside of depot re-dyed jackets. Most of the originals that are deemed "seal" were a milk chocolate brown.

That’s kinda where I was going with the question ~ the almost black jackets we see some reproducers make are not really correct. Thx all

 

[Dany McDonald]

Well my original Aero 21996 acquired through Victor (he can confirm) was most probably dark and close to seal let say... From what's left of the original coating it looks darker than mid-brown for sure.

 

[bellumbill]

Well my original Aero 21996 acquired through Victor (he can confirm) was most probably dark and close to seal let say... From what's left of the original coating it looks darker than mid-brown for sure.

Not a depot re-dye?

 

[Dany McDonald]

No, Aero were given the skins already dark.

 

[Dany McDonald]

From John Chapman.

If you can believe it, that color format was done by one of the Aero-used tanneries, not by a re-dye. I think most larger contracts were serviced by 3-5 tanneries, and with Aero, there was one that liked to have a shiny reddish russet color with a dark brown applied over it. That's how Aero would have received the leather, and one could only tell the reddish base once the jacket had been worn enough to make the seal color wear. Very interesting, and I've not seen any other tannery at that time do this.

 

[Wz1999]

Dubow 1755

 

[mulceber]

From John Chapman.

If you can believe it, that color format was done by one of the Aero-used tanneries, not by a re-dye. I think most larger contracts were serviced by 3-5 tanneries, and with Aero, there was one that liked to have a shiny reddish russet color with a dark brown applied over it. That's how Aero would have received the leather, and one could only tell the reddish base once the jacket had been worn enough to make the seal color wear. Very interesting, and I've not seen any other tannery at that time do this.

Yeah, they're pretty distinctive-looking jackets once they've had a little wear. Practically an identifying feature for Aero.

 

[Dany McDonald]

Yeah the reddish undertones creates a superb patina, the different thread colors, apple green and pale yellow and the red knits are unique to Aero. And that Crown zip!

Love that jacket.

D

 

[WingAndaPrayer]

Hello all! I am curious, of the WWII contract A2s was there are particular maker that is known or seen to have made jackets more than others in the darker seal brown color? Of did all makers produce jackets in seal brown at times?

I am looking to purchase another reproduction A2 and would like a seal brown leather but don't want to purchase a contract jacket that perhaps never made a seal brown HH version.

Thank you all!
Best,
Bill K.

The SMW has a pretty good mid brown that blurs the line between dark russet/light seal. If you’re looking for one under $500, I really liked mine.

 

[Silver Surfer]

Hello Bill,

Aero 21996 jackets were produced in a dark brown from the start, not a redeye done later.

Hope this bit of info helps in your search/choice.

D

Ah, yes Danny is correct. Many Aeros were a dar brown, ie: what is referred to as seal.

 

[ZuZu]

most, but not all star a-2s were in a darker [seal] brown. a-2s that were sent to aaf depots to be refurbished later than 1942 were re colored in seal brown.

most, but not all star a-2s were in a darker [seal] brown. a-2s that were sent to aaf depots to be refurbished later than 1942 were re colored in seal brown.

I've found the opposite to be true in most of the score or so Stars I've handled. They are often what we call russet. A poopy brown color. If they were dark they were redyed. (ones I've handled) The dark seal Star is one of the VLJ Great Legends that I think began when Eastman decided to make their Star dark seal. I think there might have been seal Stars but they are far from common. Often photos on the internet are big fat liars. The following photos are of 2 Stars- same jackets- different colors:

Photo 1- Star jacket looks dark seal:

Photo 2- the real color:

Another

Photo 1- Star jacket looks seal:

Photo 2- the real color:

 

[mulceber]

To be fair to Eastman (and Vic), the Star that appears in Gary's A-2 guide is a darker seal like what Vic's talking about (or at least appears so in the photograph). And it's definitely not a re-dye because the stitching is its original color. I can't say I've seen another like that one though.

 

[ZuZu]

Here are random Stars from the internet- they are all poopy brown:

The only unambiguously seal Star I could find not a redye was on John's CD. And here again- the photos may be liars. The 46 "seal" RW27752 on this CD was one of my old jackets. It looks dark on the CD but it's actually russet. Here's that seal Star from the CD:

 

[mulceber]

Yeah, it looks like russet Stars were prone to patina-ing darker.

 

[ZuZu]

The A-2s which were purposely made seal are those weird small-sized late "43 Broncos, Dubows, no name Perrys etc. often starting with "17.." in the contract number.

 

[mulceber]

The A-2s which were purposely made seal are those weird late "43 early "44 Broncos, Dubows, no name Perrys etc. often starting with "17.." in the contract number.

And that's around the time that they're ordering the A-2s they've already got to be re-dyed.