After all these years I finally bought one.

[warguy]

Well done, the bug has bitten! These are such iconic pieces for anyone interested in AAF aviation and history. It is kind of like a cammo Marine helmet for those interested ground fighting in the war in Pacific theater. Nice originals can be had for good value if you watch close eneough and have patience. I have several originals in my collection, and picked up two nice original ones this past month (one right here on this forum). Both were purchased for well under the “going rate“. This tan crusher is a Bancroft Patent Pending, early war in near minty condition. The size is too small for most to wear, but the OD crusher, made by Flight Weight (another popular brand that marketed specifically to fliers) is a size 7 1/2, too large for me, but a “normal” size by todays standards. Bought that one off another forum for $150 shipped.

You probably know there was a robust recent discussion on reproduction crushers here on this forum. You can find that here.

Reproduction crushers?

This may help your searches I found these sites but they don't seem to sell any uniforms parts

www.vintageleatherjackets.org

Basically, most of the better repro crusher makers are out of the game currently. I think consensus is that the finest repro crusher currently comes from Mike at Aviation Military Headwear in England. He occasionally sells on ebay, and contact information for him I believe is listed on the thread listed above. I bought one of his for wear last year and wrote a review on another thread on this forum and I can tell you the hat is excellent quality and after replacing the cap piece with an original, it sure looks the part. I will say though I paid more for it than both the originals shown here.

Kevin

 

[Pa12]

Well done, the bug has bitten! These are such iconic pieces for anyone interested in AAF aviation and history. It is kind of like a cammo Marine helmet for those interested ground fighting in the war in Pacific theater. Nice originals can be had for good value if you watch close eneough and have patience. I have several originals in my collection, and picked up two nice original ones this past month (one right here on this forum). Both were purchased for well under the “going rate“. This tan crusher is a Bancroft Patent Pending, early war in near minty condition. The size is too small for most to wear, but the OD crusher, made by Flight Weight (another popular brand that marketed specifically to fliers) is a size 7 1/2, too large for me, but a “normal” size by todays standards. Bought that one off another forum for $150 shipped.

You probably know there was a robust recent discussion on reproduction crushers here on this forum. You can find that here.

Reproduction crushers?

This may help your searches I found these sites but they don't seem to sell any uniforms parts

www.vintageleatherjackets.org

Basically, most of the better repro crusher makers are out of the game currently. I think consensus is that the finest repro crusher currently comes from Mike at Aviation Military Headwear in England. He occasionally sells on ebay, and contact information for him I believe is listed on the thread listed above. I bought one of his for wear last year and wrote a review on another thread on this forum and I can tell you the hat is excellent quality and after replacing the cap piece with an original, it sure looks the part. I will say though I paid more for it than both the originals shown here.

Kevin

View attachment 84831

View attachment 84832

Do the originals run small like the jackets? Or do they match up to modern hat size. In other words , would a 7 1/4 original be the same as a 7 1/4 in a new hat?

 

[warguy]

In my experience, yes, a 7 1/2 original is likely very close to a 7 1/2 today. I dont wear the original stuff, but I have to admit, on occasion, I might “try one on for size”.

 

[Pa12]

For years I resisted buying a crusher hat because I wasn’t going to wear it and I just didn’t need more “stuff” sitting on desks and tables on display. But recently after seeing some of you guys acquiring some pretty nice repros and originals I started looking at them and … well .. I found two of them . The first one arrived today. An original unmarked crusher. Feel free to comment on it pros and cons .
When the second one arrives I’ll post that as well . Thanks for looking . View attachment 84817View attachment 84818View attachment 84819View attachment 84820View attachment 84821

All you need now is a pair of AN6531 sunglasses

 

[Micawber]

All the original crushers I've had [Bancroft etc] have run true to size.

 

[B-Man2]

The second crusher arrived today . It looks great, and this one is marked.

 

[Pa12]

The second crusher arrived today . It looks great, and this one is marked.
View attachment 84839View attachment 84841View attachment 84840View attachment 84842View attachment 84843

Awesome. Any like that I’m seeing are 300 us. Pop the badge off and your Jimmy Stewart in the flight of the Phoenix

 

[warguy]

That’s another nice cap B-man. Enjoy while reading “On a wing and a Prayer” for the fourth time! Thanks for sharing. I suspect the prices of these original crushers might go up after the release of Masters of the Air. We shall see….We certainly saw interest in Marine Corps collectibles after the release of the Pacific, and of course Airborne related stuff especially 101st related items are still astronomical due in large part I think to the continued popularity of Band of Brothers.

 

[B-Man2]

That’s another nice cap B-man. Enjoy while reading “On a wing and a Prayer” for the fourth time! Thanks for sharing. I suspect the prices of these original crushers might go up after the release of Masters of the Air. We shall see….We certainly saw interest in Marine Corps collectibles after the release of the Pacific, and of course Airborne related stuff especially 101st related items are still astronomical due in large part I think to the continued popularity of Band of Brothers.

I agree with you . The prices of the originals continue to go up. The good repros are getting difficult to find as there are so few repro makers around these days. I don’t mind sharing with all of you that the total price I paid for both originals was less than the cost of the DD repro pictured in this thread .

 

[B-Man2]

Congrats !
well done Burt.
Would be interested to know the all in all costs for a repro imported into the US.
Thanks in advance

Bryce
I’m sorry but I don’t know the answer to your question as both of the hats I purchased were from collectors here in the US . I just don’t have any idea what a repro purchased outside of the US would cost to import into the U.S. sorry .
Regards Burt

 

[Pa12]

Aviator military headwear is 250 pounds shipped. I suspect it’s worth every penny. My problem is that our dollar is in the toilet so that converts to around 400 Canadian, and I just can’t swing that.

 

[Smithy]

Nice score with both of those Burt!

 

[Pilot]

Bryce
I’m sorry but I don’t know the answer to your question as both of the hats I purchased were from collectors here in the US . I just don’t have any idea what a repro purchased outside of the US would cost to import into the U.S. sorry .
Regards Burt

OK, perfect and great score! congrats.

 

[johnwayne]

Don't think the seller on ELC’s classifieds is doing himself any favours the way its pictured!

 

[JonnyCrow]

Nice! There's a original here for sale in one of our Spanish militaria dealers

 

[ausreenactor]

Any idea what a decent repro goes for? EBay seems to be just made in China examples which I suspect would be disappointing.

Most are rubbish. Sit to high. Lancaster did a decent run. Society Brand and American Patrol are great. Availability can be sporadic.

 

[ausreenactor]

Aviator military headwear is 250 pounds shipped. I suspect it’s worth every penny. My problem is that our dollar is in the toilet so that converts to around 400 Canadian, and I just can’t swing that.

Originsl garrison cap! Just as awesome!

 

[JonnyCrow]

Most are rubbish. Sit to high. Lancaster did a decent run. Society Brand and American Patrol are great. Availability can be sporadic.

Especially from Hong Kong Keith who took the niche from Barry Lyndon, personally I think it's still Barry haha

 

[ausreenactor]

Especially from Hong Kong Keith who took the niche from Barry Lyndon, personally I think it's still Barry haha

Need him to another Australian BD/USMC jacket. Has he got a new website?

 

[JonnyCrow]

Need him to another Australian BD/USMC jacket. Has he got a new website?

I'm not sure, I haven't seen him selling on eBay for a while