ELC Pearl Harbor A-1

[John Lever]

Size 42, looks nice
http://cgi.ebay.com/LEATHER-BOMBER-FLIG ... 35b00916eb

 

[Falcon_52]

That does look nice. John, do you recall: were these old A-1s made out of steerhide before they changed over to capeskin?

Noel

 

[John Lever]

I think they were horse.

 

[Dr H]

Yes horse, according to the multiple threads on VLJF and FL.

 

[Dr H]

That one was made for the film stock though (not the normal product)...

 

[zoomer]

They did advertise a steer A-1 just before the cape version came out.

I've got one. Reddish colored, finely grainy hide, with a sorta deerskin-yellow twill liner. Oversized cut. Nice jacket, but misses what's special about the A-1 - the lightweight character of it. I modded mine for cold weather use, with a windflap and snaps for a Filson wool vest.

Was there a special Pearl model A-1 in horse?

My Pearl A-2 is lightweight steer which would have served admirably well to make an A-1. Much thinner and more flexible than that in the above jacket.

The plot thickens...

 

[Dr H]

Paul

There's a scene in which an A-1 is shown in Pearl Harbour (there are some stills either on VLJF or FL in which it is shown clearly), but I don't think that it was specifically sold as a PH house model.

 

[deeb7]

I think they were horse.

I remember wishing they were horse ... back when I was first looking for a horse A-1, the Eastman version was always steerhide.

 

[joeson]

Think I saw this jacket,or one very similar,at the Rosebowl last weekend.Have to say,I wasn't taken with the feel/finish of it.The same seller also had an A-2 with the same treatment.It looked as though a darker colour had been painted on top of the leather.

 

[dmar836]

To me, any time ELC makes a new jacket "to look old", it's a disaster!

 

[deeb7]

I don't know if that's Pearl Harbor, or just messed with. Here's the ELC montage of the pre capeskin A-1.

 

[dmar836]

I do like that!

 

[joeson]

Think I saw this jacket,or one very similar,at the Rosebowl last weekend.Have to say,I wasn't taken with the feel/finish of it.The same seller also had an A-2 with the same treatment.It looked as though a darker colour had been painted on top of the leather.

After reading the wording in the description,It must be the same jacket.The guys selling it were Japanese and as the Rosebowl often has stuff from film studio props /costume departments,it is too much of a coincidence.I would love to own an A-1,and as finding a real one is unlikely,would gladly settle for a repro.I didn't even bother to ask the price on this one,though.

 

[Dr H]

The EBay item is numbered 22, but has no actor's name on it. I don't know how many would have been supplied - I guess Gary E could tell you.

 

[CBI]

this has come up before. I was told by the HPA people that the old A-1's were horse. I questioned them about it and they were "100% sure" whatever that is/was worth that they were horse. I loved the "older" A-1 but I ended up selling mine on eBay because the russet had too much red in it for my taste. I have the newer capeskin version which I bought from a forum member and I really like it. No drawbacks to it.

If I were to purchase one now, I would like to try Good Wear as I love the look but I know there have been periods of time when John did not have the needed hides. He also did not have a button hole machine but he does now.

This one on Ebay has wear on it that I don't think looks that good. I enjoy a worn look but this one just looks messy My 2 cents.

 

[John Lever]

If they still sold the jackets shown by David, I would definitely buy one.
The colour looks great.

 

[Dr H]

It's true John, the russet looks even better than the current, darker cape - although I prefer the drape of the latter by a long chalk.