Bill Kelso. Whats happening?

[mulceber]

Yep - I've been excited about this one for a while. I really like the Star collar, and it'll be my first BK jacket in Liberty Seal.

 

[Lord Flashheart]

Good news there Mulceber, should be a fine jacket. I've an ELC Star and that's my go to A-2 pretty much

 

[ikarashi shin-ichi]

数時間前、アンディから返信がありました。わたしもこれで一安心です。

親愛なる新一、

メールありがとう。ハッカーの攻撃により、ウェブサイトがダウンしています。セキュリティの向上に取り組んでいますが、PayPal.comとの通信に遅れがあります

Covid-19にも追加の遅延がありました。私たちはあなたのジャケットを届けるために一生懸命働きます。それは約束です。

遅れて本当にごめんなさい。もう少しお待ちください。

それまでの間、添付の新製品をご覧ください。

皆様のご健勝をお祈り申し上げます。

宜しくお願いします、
アンディ
アンディ

 

[Pilot]

数時間前、アンディから返信がありました。わたしもこれで一安心です。

親愛なる新一、

メールありがとう。ハッカーの攻撃により、ウェブサイトがダウンしています。セキュリティの向上に取り組んでいますが、PayPal.comとの通信に遅れがあります

Covid-19にも追加の遅延がありました。私たちはあなたのジャケットを届けるために一生懸命働きます。それは約束です。

遅れて本当にごめんなさい。もう少しお待ちください。

それまでの間、添付の新製品をご覧ください。

皆様のご健勝をお祈り申し上げます。

宜しくお願いします、
アンディ
アンディ

Translation
A few hours ago, Andy replied. I am relieved with this.

Dear Shinichi,

Thank you for your e-mail. A hacker's attack has brought down the website. We are working to improve security, but there is a delay in communicating with PayPal.com

Covid-19 also had an additional delay. We work hard to deliver your jacket. That is a promise.

I'm really sorry for being late. Please wait a little more.

In the meantime, please see the attached new product.

We wish you all the best of luck.

Thanking you in advance,
Andy
Andy

 

[mulceber]

Yep, just what he told me.

BTW, thanks for the translation, Pilot.

 

[Lord Flashheart]

Just to update in a galaxy far, far, away (well, January anyway) I ordered a BK RW23380. It arrived today and it looks to be a nice jacket though I've been busy all day so I haven't done much more than try it for fit and take this pic. It'll be interesting to compare this with my Goodwear RW23380 but that can wait for another day.

 

[B-Man2]

Just to update in a galaxy far, far, away (well, January anyway) I ordered a BK RW23380. It arrived today and it looks to be a nice jacket though I've been busy all day so I haven't done much more than try it for fit and take this pic. It'll be interesting to compare this with my Goodwear RW23380 but that can wait for another day.View attachment 45946

That’s a fine looking A2.!
Congrats ...

 

[mulceber]

Looks simply great, Flash. Looking forward to the fit pics!

 

[Brettafett]

Ooooh BK weekend! Looking forward to more pics

 

[ausreenactor]

Just to update in a galaxy far, far, away (well, January anyway) I ordered a BK RW23380. It arrived today and it looks to be a nice jacket though I've been busy all day so I haven't done much more than try it for fit and take this pic. It'll be interesting to compare this with my Goodwear RW23380 but that can wait for another day.View attachment 45946

Pretty impressive. Keen to hear more from you regarding the details...

The 23380 thread for some detail pics perhaps?

 

[Lord Flashheart]

Thanks guys, my first impressions of the BK are good. The BK version of the RW23380 contract appears to be a tad over an inch longer in the body. The GW version is actually shorter in the body than my Dubow repro I think. And thanks to Jan pointing out the washer / collar hook point I can confirm that GW has them the BK doesn't. I'll post a few fit pics though might not be today as I aim to get a few miles in on the bicycle. Got to stay in shape for these jackets you know

Not sure I can do a review to the high standard I've read here but I will give that a thought ... and a contract comparison thread could be interesting.

 

[MrBlue]

I emailed Andy last week, and he replied within the day. What frustrates me is that his replying is so sporadic! Like, I just want to nail down the jacket size. If he would just reply to one or two emails, I'd be able to do that. But then he doesn't reply for weeks, so then the size never gets finalised.

I've only been waiting for 4 months now, so my jacket is probably not due to another 3 months or so, but still, just reply to emails, finalise the size, and then I'll wait if I have to.

 

[Greg Gale]

Beautiful jacket, congrats. Post some fit pics too, f you can. So you ordered in January and got it now? I ordered in June, so it looks like it will take another 5-6 months for mine to arrive

 

[Officer Dibley]

I emailed Andy last week, and he replied within the day. What frustrates me is that his replying is so sporadic! Like, I just want to nail down the jacket size. If he would just reply to one or two emails, I'd be able to do that. But then he doesn't reply for weeks, so then the size never gets finalised.

I've only been waiting for 4 months now, so my jacket is probably not due to another 3 months or so, but still, just reply to emails, finalise the size, and then I'll wait if I have to.

This has also been the achilles of GW: offering customs sizes..... it reduces the authenticity. Maybe 50% of the aircrew had jackets which - to our modern tastes - fit “well”. The rest who’s fit we don’t like, we ignore.

If the makers just made standard sizes, you could take or leave the jacket & if tou don’t like it, it is much easier for the maker to re-sell.

So if you want custom, you have to suck up tge additional hassle of lots of extra comms and being on a waiting list.

If these makers just put out jackets on a website in standard sizes, first come first served. Less frustration.

And how many custom sized jackets have we seen get sold on and then on and then on. Whilst folk fight over a sleeve veing 1/2” too ling or too short ? Luxury the original aircrew not only didn’t have, but couldn’t have given a flying ‘F’ over.

People, this is a self inflicted would ......

 

[Pilot]

This has also been the achilles of GW: offering customs sizes..... it reduces the authenticity. Maybe 50% of the aircrew had jackets which - to our modern tastes - fit “well”. The rest who’s fit we don’t like, we ignore.

If the makers just made standard sizes, you could take or leave the jacket & if tou don’t like it, it is much easier for the maker to re-sell.

So if you want custom, you have to suck up tge additional hassle of lots of extra comms and being on a waiting list.

If these makers just put out jackets on a website in standard sizes, first come first served. Less frustration.

And how many custom sized jackets have we seen get sold on and then on and then on. Whilst folk fight over a sleeve veing 1/2” too ling or too short ? Luxury the original aircrew not only didn’t have, but couldn’t have given a flying ‘F’ over.

People, this is a self inflicted would ......

Well said! Bravo!
I may add, the japanese prime makers offer and sell their prime first class topp notch upper end ..etc ...jacket for gold plated money printing prices...NO discussing about an inch here or there...and they sell very well .The motto: „No like no buy“...

 

[MrBlue]

This has also been the achilles of GW: offering customs sizes..... it reduces the authenticity. Maybe 50% of the aircrew had jackets which - to our modern tastes - fit “well”. The rest who’s fit we don’t like, we ignore.

If the makers just made standard sizes, you could take or leave the jacket & if tou don’t like it, it is much easier for the maker to re-sell.

So if you want custom, you have to suck up tge additional hassle of lots of extra comms and being on a waiting list.

If these makers just put out jackets on a website in standard sizes, first come first served. Less frustration.

And how many custom sized jackets have we seen get sold on and then on and then on. Whilst folk fight over a sleeve veing 1/2” too ling or too short ? Luxury the original aircrew not only didn’t have, but couldn’t have given a flying ‘F’ over.

People, this is a self inflicted would ......

Yes, but we aren't in WW2 anymore. There are no quartermasters issuing jackets anymore. Nobody on these forums fought in WW2. Many are not even American.

Bill Kelso and GW both offer high end custom repro jackets. If I'm paying £770 for a jacket, I expect it to fit well. Whether it is a repro jacket or a bikers leather jacket or whatever.

My advice - enjoy your hobby the way you want and don't judge people for wanting a £770 jacket to fit properly. Recognise that we all value different things. You'll live longer that way.

 

[elfraty]

The money thing is a bit strange. Pay fully and wait for years?? Is that really what is going on? I would try to arrange downpayment half the amount to start the production and full payment on delivery.

 

[Pilot]

The money thing is a bit strange. Pay fully and wait for years?? Is that really what is going on? I would try to arrange downpayment half the amount to start the production and full payment on delivery.

As for prime makers:
Goodwear does.. Downpayment of xy% and rest prior delivery.
Japanese makers : you pay... you receive.
British makers, you pay, you receive after a very short and reasonable waiting.

 

[Pilot]

Yes, but we aren't in WW2 anymore. There are no quartermasters issuing jackets anymore. Nobody on these forums fought in WW2. Many are not even American.

Bill Kelso and GW both offer high end custom repro jackets. If I'm paying £770 for a jacket, I expect it to fit well. Whether it is a repro jacket or a bikers leather jacket or whatever.

My advice - enjoy your hobby the way you want and don't judge people for wanting a £770 jacket to fit properly. Recognise that we all value different things. You'll live longer that way.

Agree for the fit part if „ adapter work“ is offered.
As per the delivery and answering timing...communications etc..
discussed here since ages... so its the way it is...like it or not... or buy elsewhere ( not my words but from one of the makers in reference).
Nevertheless: great jackets and well made!
Surely worth waiting!

 

[mulceber]

Yes, but we aren't in WW2 anymore. There are no quartermasters issuing jackets anymore. Nobody on these forums fought in WW2. Many are not even American.

I’d also add that WW2 fits were all over the place, to the point where most custom sizes today probably are accurate to some original or another.

The money thing is a bit strange. Pay fully and wait for years?? Is that really what is going on? I would try to arrange downpayment half the amount to start the production and full payment on delivery.

Not years. Try “months.” And the present 7-10 month wait is in large part due to COVID. Last year it was more like 3-4 months. Personally I don’t see anything strange about paying in full and getting your jacket in 3-4 months. If anything, I appreciate not having a second, larger bill that’s going to come due at some indeterminate time.