Anything and Everything A-1

[dadgad]

Miles, do they have a web site ?

Street fashion actually

http://www.fullcount.co.jp/

 

[deeb7]

Here's some more pictures of my THE FEW A-1 ... in light russet analine hand coated HH, from 2006/7.

After the current season's version in seal, with the rust knits, for 2008/9 it's back to the light russet, but now shaved to 1.1 mm.

And just when it was starting to get a little wear, it's turned all SPRING on us. I'm probably the only one in NZ that's not pleased about this.

 

[John Lever]

Very nice. The collar looks exactly like the issue I mentioned.

 

[deeb7]

The collar looks exactly like the issue I mentioned.

On the floor that's how it landed, and without a neck in it, yes, it's going to fold.

On me, I'd folded it back, and it was creeping back upright in the front. It doesn't sit down flat, as the Eastmans seem to do.

Perhaps you are wanting to wear yours upright like a Nehru collar, but I don't think mine looks "saggy, or crumpled".

And anyway, John, I'm perfectly capable of inventing non-existant issues for my jackets, without any assistance.

 

[Andrew]

And just when it was starting to get a little wear, it's turned all SPRING on us. I'm probably the only one in NZ that's not pleased about this.

Dave, I know the pain but i'm sure you'll get plenty more opportunities than here, and this town lives on its sub tropic surf image so i'm definitely the minority.

It'll be a while before I really consider buying an A-1 but shots like these do make the cogs start turning. The fit looks extremely comfortable and familiar. I'll bet that's become a daily uniform and it'll be hard to put away for a few months.

 

[John Lever]

The collar looks exactly like the issue I mentioned.

On the floor that's how it landed, and without a neck in it, yes, it's going to fold.

On me, I'd folded it back, and it was creeping back upright in the front. It doesn't sit down flat, as the Eastmans seem to do.

Perhaps you are wanting to wear yours upright like a Nehru collar, but I don't think mine looks "saggy, or crumpled".

And anyway, John, I'm perfectly capable of inventing non-existant issues for my jackets, without any assistance.

David, the collar looks perfect when you wear it.

 

[Miles_Archer]

The more garishly huge pockets I see on almost every other repro A-1, the more I appreciate Mr. Eastman.

 

[airfrogusmc]

And JC...

 

[Miles_Archer]

^
True.

 

[Atticus]

Some of you may recall that I ordered a Goodwear A-1 last winter. Because I knew that John was very busy, and because I wanted him to make a few A-1s before he started mine, I told him I could wait until the fall of '08 for my jacket. Besides, it doesn't really get cool in North Carolina until mid October.

I knew I was in for a long wait so I didn't let myself get too excited about my new A-1. In fact, I wouldn't even let mysef look at this thread because I didn't want to tease myself. But today I spoke to John and he is about to begin work on my jacket.

I can't help it. Now I'm excited.

My jacket is going to be the plain Air Corps version. Lower, smaller pockets. Cowl, button-up collar. Two-piece back. Brown capeskin leather, hopefully with russet undertones.

So maybe just another month or so and I'll be a happy member of the Goodwear Clan. I'm stoked!

AF

 

[deeb7]

My jacket is going to be the plain Air Corps version. Lower, smaller pockets. Cowl, button-up collar.

Excellent ..... !

So is that the lower collar, from the Navy 37J1?

Looks like they usually fasten with a single snap.

 

[Atticus]

My jacket is going to be the plain Air Corps version. Lower, smaller pockets. Cowl, button-up collar.

Excellent ..... !

So is that the lower collar, from the Navy 37J1?

Looks like they usually fasten with a single snap.

Hi David,

I'm hoping that it is the taller collar that fastens with two bottons. My understanding from John is that the Navy version had a collar that is similar to that of an MA-1. The jacket that I would like to get is like this one. I think this example once belonged to George.

AF

 

[deeb7]

I'm hoping that it is the taller collar that fastens with two bottons. My understanding from John is that the Navy version had a collar that is similar to that of an MA-1.

Thanks Geoff, I like both styles, and that will be perfect.

I was just that "cowl collar", sounded like it might be scoopy.

 

[airfrogusmc]

Some of you may recall that I ordered a Goodwear A-1 last winter. Because I knew that John was very busy, and because I wanted him to make a few A-1s before he started mine, I told him I could wait until the fall of '08 for my jacket. Besides, it doesn't really get cool in North Carolina until mid October.

I knew I was in for a long wait so I didn't let myself get too excited about my new A-1. In fact, I wouldn't even let mysef look at this thread because I didn't want to tease myself. But today I spoke to John and he is about to begin work on my jacket.

I can't help it. Now I'm excited.

My jacket is going to be the plain Air Corps version. Lower, smaller pockets. Cowl, button-up collar. Two-piece back. Brown capeskin leather, hopefully with russet undertones.

So maybe just another month or so and I'll be a happy member of the Goodwear Clan. I'm stoked!

AF

Thats one fine A-1 and congrats Geoff...

 

[Doug C]

David, your jacket is awesome and that look with the shades is just classic.

About the cowl collar, I've never heard a name put on it when referring to the A-1, but if I were ordering I'd let JC know I wanted the more common stand up collar with two buttons and loops, as not to receive a "letterman's jacket" collar - unless that's what you're after. I know some civilian A-1 type jackets had that kind of rounded collar but did the military contracted ones? I've seen navy A-1s but never with that collar.

Doug C

 

[deeb7]

I know some civilian A-1 type jackets had that kind of rounded collar but did the military contracted ones? I've seen navy A-1s but never with that collar.

Thanks for the kind words, Doug ......

I don't have a lot to go on, but the few pictures of originals that I have saved, and the photo's in Full Gear, all show the lower collar with snap.

The specifications for the leather 37J1 called for the breast pockets, and although the collar style isn't mentioned, to me those were the two main differences between the two.

When the leather 37J1 was replaced by the cloth version it lost those differences. Now with a zipper, the knit collar became higher with the two buttons, and the pockets were lower, and gained inverted pleats.

Letterman collar is a good description, it's like an L-2 collar, but with the leather still buttoning high to the neck.

So that's all I know, the only Navy jackets that I've seen with the high collar, are the Lost Worlds reproductions .... kind of a hybrid.

 

[Doug C]

Well, that's strange because most all A-1s I've seen have the collar like your jacket, a high knit with buttons and loops..no snaps except at the bottom. So you believe the other (letterman style) was the norm then? Lately that's not how the repros are being made.. look at eastmans, lostworlds, all GW so far, etc... come to think of it, am I misunderstanding? Maybe I'm confusing the navy A1s with the Air Corp?

Doug C

 

[deeb7]

... come to think of it, am I misunderstanding? Maybe I'm confusing the navy A1s with the Air Corp?

Yes, I think so, Doug ....

All the repros have been of the Air Corp version, except for the Lost Worlds hybrid, a mixture of the two.

Maybe we should call the Navy jacket the 37J1, it's more correct anyway, since the Air Corp jacket is the only true type A-1.

Here's a picture that I borrowed earlier, it was entitled A-1, but these look like the Navy jackets.

 

[asiamiles]

Maybe we should call the Navy jacket the 37J1, it's more correct anyway, since the Air Corp jacket is the only true type A-1.

The 37J1 is a cloth jacket. I would doubt the same model number would have been given to a leather jacket.

 

[Miles_Archer]

Wasn't the 37J1 first a leather jacket and later a cloth one?