Silver Surfer
Well-Known Member
the longer term members have seen this one, but there have been a lot of newbie coming aboard, so, i thought to post some pix of my original monarch a-2. for the most part these monarchs were made in a lighter colored horse hide. the original dec 1941 contract called for 15,000 jackets. they were odd ducks by way of having the epaulets placed directly over the shoulder seam. the sleeves were rotated to the point of having the inside sleeve seam actually lining up with your thumb if stood with your arms straight down. monarch opted to paint the brass zipper puller, and zinc stopper box in a brown color, while anodizing the brass zipper run black. this is similar to the m and some of the g series navy jackets of the period. i have handled several monarchs and most of them were longer and narrower then other contracts. my guess is that monarch patterned or sized their a-2s as they did their navy m-422 [also contracted in 1941]. i never researched the original owner, j.e. deyo. however, the jacket has an interesting modern history. i purchased this one from grant about 15 years ago, and some 5 or so years later, sold it to andrew [i needed the dough]. he kept it for a few years, and then contacted me asking if i would like to buy it back. that i did...in a flash. i dont know why, but these monarchs are awfully hard to come by in a wearable size,, and wearable condition. also, it is tagged a size 44, but fits as a size 40-42 long. oh, and the pic of the back of the collar shows the original light russet color.
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