herk115
Active Member
Folks,
I just scored a Goodwear on Ebay and after having worn it for just a few minutes, I'm having some doubts. Maybe I'm just used to that stiff but solid Lost Worlds I bought few weeks ago, but there just seems to be something wrong with this jacket.
1. The leather has a great patina. The seller said the patina was put there by the "veteran" who owned the jacket previously (said he got it at an estate sale), but the patina is equally visible underneath the pockets where there should logically be little or no patina, this being protected space. You know, the way it would look if the jacket was made of "pre-distressed" leather. And other than the patina, the leather seems very smooth and well-protected, almost as if it has some kind of protectant applied to it (which could be legit...somebody wanting to protect an expensive jacket). This is problematic because I would expect some roughness, chafing, even cracking from a jacket with this kind of patina.
2. The leather is supple. WAY too supple. Like it's not really horse hide. I have never had a jacket this supple.
3. A squadron patch is sewn to the left chest and the stitches go all the way through the lining as they would if the patch was added in the field. But I'm disturbed that the patina of the jacket continues right onto the patch. What I mean is that the patch has some dirt and soiling that would be indicative of heavy wear, but logic tells me if that were the case, a light cleaning would remove at least some of the dirt, but it hasn't. It's acting as if the soiling was part of the artwork of this patch.
4. The smell. I know this doesn't mean much, but when I smell the jacket I feel like I'm standing in a Wilson's House of Suede and Leather. It just doesn't smell right.
Otherwise, though, the workmanship is superb, all the correct snaps, zipper, hooks, knits, lining, etc. were used and nothing seems out of place as it would on a "mall" jacket. There is a USAAF-style generic Goodwear label exactly where the label ought to be. The jacket is a bit baggy put that means nothing, as it could have been a custom job for someone larger than me.
My question: did John ever make a "house" jacket like Eastman did? And did he ever make jackets using "pre-distressed" leather? Do I have a real Goodwear or have I descended into an expensive sucker hole? Photos coming, hopefully tomorrow.
I just scored a Goodwear on Ebay and after having worn it for just a few minutes, I'm having some doubts. Maybe I'm just used to that stiff but solid Lost Worlds I bought few weeks ago, but there just seems to be something wrong with this jacket.
1. The leather has a great patina. The seller said the patina was put there by the "veteran" who owned the jacket previously (said he got it at an estate sale), but the patina is equally visible underneath the pockets where there should logically be little or no patina, this being protected space. You know, the way it would look if the jacket was made of "pre-distressed" leather. And other than the patina, the leather seems very smooth and well-protected, almost as if it has some kind of protectant applied to it (which could be legit...somebody wanting to protect an expensive jacket). This is problematic because I would expect some roughness, chafing, even cracking from a jacket with this kind of patina.
2. The leather is supple. WAY too supple. Like it's not really horse hide. I have never had a jacket this supple.
3. A squadron patch is sewn to the left chest and the stitches go all the way through the lining as they would if the patch was added in the field. But I'm disturbed that the patina of the jacket continues right onto the patch. What I mean is that the patch has some dirt and soiling that would be indicative of heavy wear, but logic tells me if that were the case, a light cleaning would remove at least some of the dirt, but it hasn't. It's acting as if the soiling was part of the artwork of this patch.
4. The smell. I know this doesn't mean much, but when I smell the jacket I feel like I'm standing in a Wilson's House of Suede and Leather. It just doesn't smell right.
Otherwise, though, the workmanship is superb, all the correct snaps, zipper, hooks, knits, lining, etc. were used and nothing seems out of place as it would on a "mall" jacket. There is a USAAF-style generic Goodwear label exactly where the label ought to be. The jacket is a bit baggy put that means nothing, as it could have been a custom job for someone larger than me.
My question: did John ever make a "house" jacket like Eastman did? And did he ever make jackets using "pre-distressed" leather? Do I have a real Goodwear or have I descended into an expensive sucker hole? Photos coming, hopefully tomorrow.
