Amelia Earhart Flight Jacket Reproduction - The Aviatrix

[Flightengineer]

I'll wait a little while my daughter stops growing so fast and order one for sure.
I almost desided to bought kid's version of this Amelia's jacket from Jay a year ago. It was a really super jacket, but if only I had done it, today I would have to sell it.

 

[B-Man2]

Probably a smart thing to do Dimitry. Kids grow up so quickly that clothing lasts for only a short time before they’re into something bigger or the next latest and greatest style.
Cheers

 

[Flightengineer]

Probably a smart thing to do Dimitry. Kids grow up so quickly that clothing lasts for only a short time before they’re into something bigger or the next latest and greatest style.
Cheers

Yes, you are right Burt. There was a period when she did not grow quickly, but now she is rapidly transforming from a child into a beautiful girl. I'll wait a little while she stops growing up and then want gift her a good jacket.

 

[ausreenactor]

That capeskin looks like it would just wrap around you from day one. Nice...

 

[Technonut2112]

I found this interesting....While doing research on this type of cyclist / aviator jacket since I happen to have an example of a similar style from the latter 1930's to early 40's on the way, I ran into an article which appears to show this particular jacket that Amelia owned. It's in the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum:

A trip to Kansas

I'm going to travel outside my usual blog universe and show you some pictures from a brief road trip Pat and I took last month to Kans...

csdailyphoto.blogspot.com

Here's the jacket I purchased (original knits in very good condition with two-piece sleeves, and single-piece back):

 

[Skyhawk]

I found this interesting....While doing research on this type of cyclist / aviator jacket since I happen to have an example of a similar style from the latter 1930's to early 40's on the way, I ran into an article which appears to show this particular jacket that Amelia owned. It's in the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum:

A trip to Kansas

I'm going to travel outside my usual blog universe and show you some pictures from a brief road trip Pat and I took last month to Kans...

csdailyphoto.blogspot.com

View attachment 24313

Thanks so much for posting this! I have not run across this jacket before and I have to say, it pretty much looks identical to the photos of her other original jacket. This could very well be it. I had thought the jacket went down with the plane because she is wearing it when they reached Hawaii. Maybe she left it there by accident? Took it off in the heat and forgot it in the stress of preflight. Or maybe she had 2 of them made up for her in different colors? This jacket appears to have lighter hide and knits but all else looks identical.

The original photos are in black and white however, so it could just be that the colors seem darker then they really were. I would love to get a peek of the label and the hide inside the pockets. A pilgrimage may be in order...

I also have to say that this jacket is a close match to a jacket put out by A.G. Spalding during that time.
The color shown is their Newport Tan. Note that the stitching on the pockets and closures are identical:

In addition, the liner is a match and both have no hanger strip. One difference is the button holes are machined on this jacket. There are other differences as well, zipper, knits, but these are small things.

Thanks again! This is way beyond "interesting" in my opinion.

Regards,
Jay

 

[Skyhawk]

I have contacted the Museum with questions. I will let you guys know the outcome.
-J

 

[Bombing IP]

Jay this
Amelia Earhart Flight Jacket Reproduction - The Aviatrix

Has had 15K views ,that a lot of interest my friend .

Jeff

 

[Skyhawk]

Wow Jeff thanks!
The Amelia jacket is fascinating stuff for me no doubt. Glad there is some interest.

I'm waiting to hear back on some very specific questions. If this is the jacket, I am going to try to arrange a private viewing to get a first hand look. Possibly even some measurements. The possibilities are exciting!!

 

[Skyhawk]

Seeing the color photos really reminds of this Spalding Model 30 jacket from the 1920's / 30's flight gear catalog.

As we have seen though, colors can be deceiving when dealing with 1930's Capeskin. Often it fades, A LOT. I think we would need a protected leather photo to be sure, like the inside of a pocket.

For example, take this original 37J1 that we know was a Dark Chestnut color by the inside of the pocket. It has faded to a tan color that is not that different than the Amelia jacket in the museum:

Original color:

Regards,
Jay

 

[Technonut2112]

If indeed authentic, I'm happy that Amelia's jacket ended-up back at her birthplace:

Regardless, even if it turns out to be an 'extra' jacket purchased by Amelia, more than likely they were both purchased together, or at least from the same manufacturer in around the same time period. They would more than likely share the same pattern, materials, etc.. Still well worth a road trip to study more in depth (if allowed) to construct the most exacting repro anyone could wish for IMO...

 

[Skyhawk]

If indeed authentic, I'm happy that Amelia's jacket ended-up back at her birthplace:



View attachment 24323


Regardless, even if it turns out to be an 'extra' jacket purchased by Amelia, more than likely they were both purchased together, or at least from the same manufacturer in around the same time period. They would more than likely share the same pattern, materials, etc.. Still well worth a road trip to study more in depth (if allowed) to construct the most exacting repro anyone could wish for IMO...

Hell yeah!

 

[Bombing IP]

Hell yeah!

Would be interesting to see the makers label on this jacket of hers !.

Jeff

 

[Ken at Aero Leather]

I found this interesting....While doing research on this type of cyclist / aviator jacket since I happen to have an example of a similar style from the latter 1930's to early 40's on the way, I ran into an article which appears to show this particular jacket that Amelia owned. It's in the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum:

A trip to Kansas

I'm going to travel outside my usual blog universe and show you some pictures from a brief road trip Pat and I took last month to Kans...

csdailyphoto.blogspot.com

View attachment 24313



Here's the jacket I purchased (original knits in very good condition with two-piece sleeves, and single-piece back):



View attachment 24314

This is far too close to the one in the well known photo for it not to be identical (other than colour?)
Over the last 30 years we've made maybe a sample a decade of this jacket, for some reaon there has never been much enthusiasm at Aero over the project and I very much doubt it will ever happen.
Good luck with yours, Jay
The Nata Snook Southern coat is another story, everyone loves it, hopefully it'll be on the market in the next couple of months .............for those unaware, Neta taught Amelia to fly

 

[Skyhawk]

This is far too close to the one in the well known photo for it not to be identical (other than colour?)
Over the last 30 years we've made maybe a sample a decade of this jacket, for some reaon there has never been much enthusiasm at Aero over the project and I very much doubt it will ever happen.
Good luck with yours, Jay
The Nata Snook Southern coat is another story, everyone loves it, hopefully it'll be on the market in the next couple of months .............for those unaware, Neta taught Amelia to fly

Thanks Ken! Yeah I agree. I'm leaning toward it being THE jacket. The way the stitching intersects the zipper rivets looks the same. Obviously the same Zipper Puller and darkened rivets also. It's weird though how dark the knits look in the black and whites. The leather color could just be a whole lot of fading going on. Or maybe it was "Newport Tan" from A.G. Spalding... Remains to be seen.

 

[2BM2K]

Beautiful jacket.

Interesting comparing the colour photo to the original B&W photo, with respect to colour.

My thinking is that the knits are biscuit coloured and that the original colour of the leather would be coordinated with this.

In the B&W photo the bit that I find interesting is her right forearm sleeve which is caught in the sunlight and appears quite light in colour.

B&W photo's can be misleading in colours, for example russet coloured A2 jackets can look very dark.

 

[Skyhawk]

True but the knits look very dark in the photos. Also I don't see the stitch lines on the knits, or some sort of lines if not stitching, in the BW photos:

I wonder if the knits are well done replacements.
-J

 

[2BM2K]

There is only one way, a hands on examination of the jacket, somehow.

 

[Skyhawk]

I don't think the original knits had the lines that the jacket in the new photos have. also the ribbing appears to wide.

Also maybe some B&W renderings are in order. In this one it is way too light but the knits do appear darker than the leather. Not as dark as the original photos though.

 

[2BM2K]

There are differences in the jackets but there are also similarities.

It could be that Amelia had more than one of these, after all who here has just one jacket. Which is an opportunity for producing a range of replicas in various colours.

Decolouring a digital photo does not give the same results as an original film B&W photo.