Everything Vintage Irvins

[Andrew]

Today my friend asked me to come over to see an Irvin jacket and pants that he has been offered.
The pants are standard Irvin, excellent condition with only on small tear.
The jacket however is different.
Instead of the standard Irvin size label , it has a small rectangular label that says "Air Ministry , contract # and date( 1940).
The zipper tabs are very plain and also say Air Ministry.
At one time the jacket was electrically heated as the stud on each arm cuff is still present. However all the internal wiring has been removed.
Also the rear black elastic strap is still present behind the collar.
Size wise it is a 44 as it fits me perfectly.
The original owner was an RCAF Lanc Pilot.
Sorry I don't have pictures.
Any comments or further info about this unusual Irvin are welcome

It actually all sounds pretty normal to me Fleet- what was it that strikes you as unusual? If it's the label, there were many different designs ranging from large with the name of manufacturer and location to very plain and narrow with only the details you mention. I suppose the early date of this minimal label is a little different-Mick Prodger has reported an Air Ministry order of sometime after 1941 prohibiting the listing of specifics on labels to avoid giving away free info. I have a jacket with the large descriptive label dating from 1941.

If you get a chance post some pics pls.

 

[fleet16b]

Thanks for the comments
I had never seen an Air Ministry Label or zips and that is what I thought was odd.
This one is dated 1940.
I will try to get some pics from him.

fleet16b

 

[Roughwear]

This does indeed sound like a perfectly normal two panel electrically wired Irvin, which would have been issued to bomber crew. The jacket carried the wires to heat the gloves and boots, but was not heated itself. Yes the AM label is quite correct and very common. They were of different sizes. The AM on the zips indicates together with the 1940 contract indicates late 1940 manufacture. The metal studs on each arm were to attach the gloves. Most of the electrically wired jackets from this time which I have seen were either made by Irvin Air Chute or Wareings and with pictures I maybe able to tell for sure.

 

[PADDY_M]

:lol: Sadly to say, I think the 'auld codger' wearing the jacket (ie: me) is more likely to be falling apart with 'rot' well before the flying suit. So, if you have any of that special 'anti rot agent' going spare, then fire it in my direction please and I can either rub it into this leathery skin of mine as a linament, or failing that, just drink it neat

Paddy, I feel a considerable obligation to let you know that this particular Irvin jacket is about to disintegrate, probably within the next 4 to 5 weeks, just before the onset of the cold weather coincidentally. It very sadly has an unusual form of the little-known Irvin rot, which is very apparent if you know what to look for. I am however, completely selflessly, prepared to take it off your hands. So I am urging you to sell it to me immediately, so I can errrr......... cure it with my unique anti-rot agent...which I have developed exclusively..... ahem...... by myself... at home. You know it makes sense Paddy, act now before it's too late!

 

[rich]

Just a daft roundabout way of complimenting that fantastic Irvin Paddy, it belongs to the right man!

 

[Baron Kurtz]

So, if you have any of that special 'anti rot agent' going spare, then fire it in my direction please and I can either rub it into this leathery skin of mine as a linament, or failing that, just drink it neat

This is becoming positively pornographic. Ah, what becomes of an obvious double entendre when not noted!!! This just may be my rotten mind at play, but:

fire it in my direction please

rub it into this leathery skin of mine as a linament

failing that, just drink it neat

You've a career ahead of you in Las Vegas, Mr. M.

bk

 

[Baron Kurtz]

I picked up another original Irvin; this time one with a collar rather than the CC yellow hood. I'll post pics once my Pecarding is finished. The outer was very dry and is responding nicely. There are issues but none too great. I'm begging for:

a Dot puller for arm zip (I have a replacement AM Lightning, but i'd rather complete the set of Dots)

a pattern for the buckle or ring side of the neck strap (or, of course, if someone wants to just sell me an original one )

an erection strap. Does anyone sell these? The hooks are still present on the collar, just needs the strap.

bk

 

[Roughwear]

I picked up another original Irvin; this time one with a collar rather than the CC yellow hood. I'll post pics once my Pecarding is finished. The outer was very dry and is responding nicely. There are issues but none too great. I'm begging for:

a Dot puller for arm zip (I have a replacement AM Lightning, but i'd rather complete the set of Dots)

a pattern for the buckle or ring side of the neck strap (or, of course, if someone wants to just sell me an original one )

an erection strap. Does anyone sell these? The hooks are still present on the collar, just needs the strap.

bk

You can buy the collar securing strap from ELC for around £15. Dot pulls rarely come up for sale but you can get them cheap if you are able to buy some wrecked flying trousers. The rings for the leather collar strap varied in size and you can use rings from dog chains. I can supply you with an original leather strip to secure them to the collar. Looking forward to seeing pics of the jacket.

 

[Peter Graham]

an erection strap. Does anyone sell these?

I know a shop where you can get one. They also do gimp masks and whips !

 

[Andrew]

an erection strap. Does anyone sell these?

I know a shop where you can get one. They also do gimp masks and whips !

Yikes.

Maybe the old classic "the spare goggle strap" is a safer misnomer after all...

 

[Andrew]

New Irvin for Andrew S

Saw you bought this Andrew, what's special about it?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... SS:AU:1123

 

[oose]

Hi,
Is this one of those black fleece Irvins!?

yours stu

 

[rich]

Hi,
Is this one of those black fleece Irvins!?
yours stu

I don't think so Stu - as you know, some Irvin's were a fair bit darker than others and I would guess that in this shot it's just the way the light is catching the pile - for the most part it's tone is no darker and usually lighter than the brown of the leather, which makes me think it's not black. But light does strange things and I might well be talking out of my earhole - it's a great shot though, the guy on the right reminds me of Ernie Bilko. Those guys knew how to press their trousers!

 

[Roughwear]

Re: New Irvin for Andrew S

Saw you bought this Andrew, what's special about it?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... SS:AU:1123

The jacket turned out to be a 1940 contract Irvin (H. 174370/40/C.I.D) issued to Links and is a size 5. The Lightning zips are original to the jacket and, unless I am mistaken, were only fitted to Irvins from this date. They are clearly early as they do not have AM markings, which came in from late 1940 on zips. The four panel back and two panel front indicate that this jacket is a transitional one, before they were mostly all made using 4 panel back and fronts. I have seen Links jackets from this contract with two panel front and back and four panel front and backs.

 

[Roughwear]

Hi,
Is this one of those black fleece Irvins!?
yours stu

I don't think so Stu - as you know, some Irvin's were a fair bit darker than others and I would guess that in this shot it's just the way the light is catching the pile - for the most part it's tone is no darker and usually lighter than the brown of the leather, which makes me think it's not black. But light does strange things and I might well be talking out of my earhole - it's a great shot though, the guy on the right reminds me of Ernie Bilko. Those guys knew how to press their trousers!

This is a conventional honey-coloured Irvin, not the black sheep variety. Photos of black Irvins are extremely rare indeed, just like the black Irvin! BTW this 1942 Irvin looks almost brand new.

 

[rich]

Re: New Irvin for Andrew S

Saw you bought this Andrew, what's special about it?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... SS:AU:1123

The jacket turned out to be a 1940 contract Irvin (H. 174370/40/C.I.D) issued to Links and is a size 5. The Lightning zips are original to the jacket and, unless I am mistaken, were only fitted to Irvins from this date. They are clearly early as they do not have AM markings, which came in from late 1940 on zips. The four panel back and two panel front indicate that this jacket is a transitional one, before they were mostly all made using 4 panel back and fronts. I have seen Links jackets from this contract with two panel front and back and four panel front and backs.

Yes, but what did you tell the missus Andrew?

 

[Roughwear]

Re: New Irvin for Andrew S

[/quote]Yes, but what did you tell the missus Andrew?[/quote]


No problem. She really can't tell one Irvin from an other!

 

[Andrew]

I'm not certain but I think the fellow on the left is Air Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham, Commander Air Headquarters Western Desert, which would make that particualr Irvin pretty sepcial (it is a very nice one), and the fellow on the right could be Edward N. Backus, but at the time he was only a Col. (so it may well not be him too!)

Anyhow, I was thinking that his Ike jacket looked a lot like English Battledress. Are they very similar?

 

[rich]

Good call Andrew, I couldn't say but looking at these it seems possible.

 

[Peter Graham]

Anyhow, I was thinking that his Ike jacket looked a lot like English Battledress. Are they very similar?

They are very similar. The Ike jacket was modelled on the British battledress.