John Lever
Moderator
I think Peter Green (founder of ALC) started making Irvins around 1974
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AVIREX …. The company that started it all…. (In 500 words or less… again.)
- Thread starter B-Man2
- Start date
B-Man2
Well-Known Member
John
From everything I’ve read about the company, 1975 is the agreed upon starting date for the Avirex company. So I assume that would be about the same time period that they started making A2 jackets. However, if you look at some of the labels of the A2 jackets many of them reference the year 1978 in the label contents . Not sure what that means .
Juanito
Well-Known Member
Not that I know of. As far as I can remember, there just started calling them that at one point and I am certain everything from the photo to the ad copy was the same, except they put "MacArthur" in the bold title. For some reason I can't find all the other Cockpit catalogs I have/had to check.
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Juanito
Well-Known Member
Now, that's funny!
B-Man2
Well-Known Member
It definitely seems that way. Much in the same way that Lost Worlds A2’s all use the same contract number on their labels .I think all of Avirex A-2s with the faux WW2 lablen listed the contract number as 1978-01.
John Lever
Moderator
Pretty sure ALC predates Avirex.
johnwayne
Well-Known Member
In Cowboys of the Sky there’s no mention of an actual date Avirex started but the book was first published in 1989 and claims later ‘that in 10 years of making jackets they sold 2.14m worldwide’, wow and that was then!
On a separate note in the preface, the author Gilles Lhote, mentions an earlier ref book entitled ‘The Leather of Heroes’ - a French publication that quickly sold out. No idea if it was in French or English but wonder if anyone has a copy? Meanwhile, I might go on a search!!!
On a separate note in the preface, the author Gilles Lhote, mentions an earlier ref book entitled ‘The Leather of Heroes’ - a French publication that quickly sold out. No idea if it was in French or English but wonder if anyone has a copy? Meanwhile, I might go on a search!!!
Smithy
Well-Known Member
johnwayne
Well-Known Member
Cheers Smithy
I’m guessing it’s all in French which I can’t read, despite lessons at school, yonks ago!!
Chandler
Well-Known Member
Here are some (less-than professional) shots of my B-3 and the tags -- interesting to note the same 1978 used on the B-3.
I can't recall just when I got this one, but it wasn't long after the A-2 in the early 90s. Odd that I chose a 42 (which is a large 42) since I bought the A-2 in a 44 (which is a small 44). Probably something to do with a "these run different than modern sizing" blurb in the Cockpit catalog.
I can't recall just when I got this one, but it wasn't long after the A-2 in the early 90s. Odd that I chose a 42 (which is a large 42) since I bought the A-2 in a 44 (which is a small 44). Probably something to do with a "these run different than modern sizing" blurb in the Cockpit catalog.
Chandler
Well-Known Member
Some previous, parallel discussion:
www.vintageleatherjackets.org
The Cockpit Magazine (catalog)
Wasn't sure where to start this thread, but I guess I'll stick to General Discussion. Excavating my storage unit, I found my collection of The Cockpit Mag/Catalogs from the '90s -- good god, I saved a ton of these! So, did I really spend $325 on a MacArthur A-2? (Authentic military...
www.vintageleatherjackets.org
