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Good Wear Type A-1 (size 44-46) domestic capeskin

Dr H

Well-Known Member
EBay Item 190767625207

I am offering for sale my Good Wear Leather A-1, which is the second that John Chapman made in 2008.

This jacket is in the older US domestic capeskin, which has the best match for the thickness and depth of grain seen in period photos. The leather is soft but strong and the drape is outstanding - the jacket feels and wears like a leather sweater. This jacket is in excellent condition – beautifully worn in, but with no marks, no stains and no smells.

The brick red-coloured cotton lining is in excellent condition - unmarked and unholed and the period accurate specification and size labels are correct for the contract. The golden brown knits (collar, waist and cuffs) are tight and unholed. The paint is largely missing from the waist snaps consistent with a patinated jacket, but could be reapplied easily if desired. All buttons (horn to the front and bone to the rear) are complete and in excellent condition.

Our own...our very own...John Jeter (CBI), a talented jacket artist, has painted the jacket as it might have appeared around 1935 when used by a pilot within the 8th Attack Squadron. To the chest (left side) is the characteristic liberty bell, surmounted by a bald eagle. To the yoke on the rear is painted USAAC (the United States Army Air Corps, forerunner of the USAAF). The aircraft depicted on the back is a Curtiss A-12 Shrike, which the squadron flew around this period; the markings are authentic. John has done a very convincing job in achieving a well-patinated and well worn artwork, in keeping with a used jacket.


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This A-1 is tagged a 46, but please check the dimensions as it fits like a larger 44:
Pit to pit = 25 inches.
Front length = 23.5 inches.
Back length = 26 inches.
Shoulder = 20 inches.
Sleeves = 24.5 inches.

In summary, this is a unique jacket crafted by a premium jacket maker in a hard to source hide with very well executed artwork.

Further Images are available on PhotoBucket at
http://s867.beta.photobucket.com/user/D ... ort=3&o=10

Will be sad to see it go as it's very stylish and comfortable, but must stick to my 'buy one/sell one policy'. Wish me well with it.
 

CBI

Well-Known Member
thanks all - makes me want to paint another one. Painting one - FINALLY - for the wife soon.

Good luck with the sale - Folks, this is a really nice jacket!!!
 

Skip

Well-Known Member
Just from the pics alone, I can see why you'd be sad to let it go. You guys keep trying to convince me on A-1's...

beautiful jacket, beautiful art :!:
 

Dr H

Well-Known Member
I anticipated a good A-2 source book, but any A-1 nuggets are selling it to me. :mrgreen:
 

Roughwear

Well-Known Member
There is a short section on A-1's and information on contractors and those who were not awarded contracts.
 

Peter Graham

Well-Known Member
Ian, I really hope you get a good price for this jacket. If it was mine I don't think I could ever part with it but painted repros are hard to shift on ebay from what I've seen. Your jacket is beyond the norm so maybe people will recognise that. Good luck anyway mate. It's a work of art.
 

CBI

Well-Known Member
Ian - if you can edit the header on eBay, I would include A-2 jacket in the title as all people searching A-2's will see it. Right now, a much smaller group of buyers can see it. People searching for a Good Wear or A-1 jacket - a much smaller number.

Lots more views with this:

A-1 Flight Jacket A-2 Jacket Good Wear Size 44-46 WW2 Jacket
 

Dr H

Well-Known Member
CBI said:
Ian - if you can edit the header on eBay, I would include A-2 jacket in the title as all people searching A-2's will see it. Right now, a much smaller group of buyers can see it. People searching for a Good Wear or A-1 jacket - a much smaller number.

Lots more views with this:

A-1 Flight Jacket A-2 Jacket Good Wear Size 44-46 WW2 Jacket

Thanks for the advice John, I've modified the title as you suggested.
Cheers
Ian
 
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