Aero 21996 Sz. 44 on Ebay

[Mac]

Aero 21996, rust knits, size 44.

Item: 180555652078

http://cgi.ebay.com/Orig-WW2-21996-...078?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a09f49bee

Mac

 

[CBI]

Yes, I am afraid this jacket has not been well represented. There is a fair amount of cracking around the collar adn upper sleeves and there is a repaired rip on the upper left shoulder that has been fixed. I sold this seller this jacket and it looks like it has been Picarded and something about waterproofed? What bothers me is that there are many nice detail shots but not where the problems are. Don't get me wrong, the jacket looks great and is a wearer as long as one is careful. This is just a not 100% on the up and up listing. If ther seller is a VLJ member - apologies but I believe that when I sold it on eBay, I faithfully listed all of the issues.

This jacket has had on odd recent history. I think Andrew (Roughwear) owned it at one point. The VLJ member I purchased it from (not RW) was needing a quick sale to fund another VLJ A-2 purchase. He used Andrew's photos (I think) to show the jacket. These showed a patch free jacket. When the jacket arrived, there was a squadron patch, large nameplate and two shoulder patches. The seller mentioned he had patches "made" for the jacket but not ON it. Anyway, with patch free photos, I noticed many stitch holes that I assumed I would cover and the jacket was a good enough price so I rolled with it. Actually, I was hesitant to buy it as there were some odd posts. Oh, that shoulder rip mentioend above was not in the pics. I learned my lesson ................

OK, enough. I was/am too busy and I thought best to stay out of it.

There's the poop -

 

[Cobblers161]

Thanks CBI, that's one of the truly valuable aspects of this forum, the ability to pass on such information.
I'm not passing any judgement on the seller but without your input someone would end up being severely disappointed.
I'm kinda half on the lookout for a 44" aero and was originally considering a punt on this.
Luckily there's enough of you knowledgable folk to keep 'em peeled.

 

[prostaff4ever]

This is excellent information flow! Thank you!

 

[TankBuster]

That's what this forum is about. I don't think your in the wrong at all CBI for posting this. Helping other forum members avoid making mistakes is a bonus of our tight little group of jacketeers! Even though personally I was not considering this jacket, thanks for posting the info!

 

[Roughwear]

Yes, it was once mine. I bought it from Simon, a former member here. It does have issues and I guess that's why its doing the rounds. It has a repaired split on the right upper back, several deep grooves in the hh on the lower arms which could easily turn into rips, a replaced Talon zip, ELC knits and some areas of surface flaking. It looks great from a distance, but as has been said already the issues are not photographed.

 

[Mac]

Thanks for the info, CBI.

Mac

 

[dmar836]

Quotes of interest:

"The leather is soft, durable and this jacket is ready for the every day wear (seldom). "
"Its nourished and rain protected."
"The leather has crackles (patina) on top shoulder area, which looks desirable and is also a proof of authencity (age)."

Would you say this is not a true description? Description sounds like it's a well-stored and or lightly used jacket of age. Collar closeup would appear rather crusty - yet oily. I can see old holes at the bottom of the zip. Could it just have been reinforced? The back of the flap doesn't have old stitch holes. Since we don't see too many other closeups, maybe they just hit the original holes?
Good salesman.

Dave

 

[HHjackets]

he's even pecard(ed) the lining!

 

[CBI]

Quotes are excellent science fiction. Its a cool looking jacket, it fit me really well. I was going to do some refurbishing but another jacket (a much nicerone ) becaime available to me so I needed to sell it.

 

[Andrew]

It almost looks like he's overdyed it at well. Perhaps that's the ovedose of Pecards but this is what it should look like. I restored this 21996 using lining and label supplied by JC.

This jacket has the nicest leather I have seen on any original and i've never applied Pecards to as I think it would just kill this fabulous patina.

 

[CBI]

 

[Roughwear]

I forgot to say its a USAAF depot respray job and the zip was replaced used most of the original stitch holes possibly latwr in the War or just afterwards. It is NOT a jacket for regular wear. The seller is the same one who sells suspect Luftwaffe jackets!

 

[havocpaul]

My fingers feel sticky just looking at it! He's not a seller with honest history either.