I never learn

[MikeyB-17]

Countless are the number of G-1's I've owned and never kept, but still I keep buying them. Having sold the Irvin B. 'C' series I professed was my best ever, once again I started casting my eye around for another G-1. Following my usual M.O. of taking a chance on jackets with lousy pics and sellers who don't know what they're selling, I've just nabbed this:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370987718057? ... 1439.l2649

Terrible pics, I was able to lighten them up a bit and they basically show that the cuff knits are shot, and the waist knit appears to be double ply, but the collar is brown, not black, which suggests it's mouton, and it has a 'paperclip' 60's style zip, plus Velcro patches on the chest, so I reckon it's late 60's USN. Anyway we shall see. I'm amazed at how much prices have gone up lately.

 

[Anonymous]

for that price, no problems

 

[dmar836]

Good buy! Hope it fits well.
Dave

 

[Peter Graham]

A good buy for sure Mike. If you don't like it you can always sell it on. You could make a decent profit with good photos.

 

[Roughwear]

I agree. It's a good buy Mike. It reminds me of a Cooper G-1.

 

[CBI]

It looks good. Great deals often mean a little extra work, knit replacements, etc. which increases the amount you put into it but often its still a bit less in the end (sometimes more). So usually, not as good deal but there can be those real positive surprises. I just had the same happen to me. Picked up a very used original Ed Church M422a for $150. What a deal - fits GREAT but blurry pics. Jacket arrives, covered with paint spots some spills, etc. Its all fixed now but if I want stock knits and collar, will run another $150. $300 for a nice M422a is still a good deal.

Enjoy yours.

 

[Atticus]

I'm pretty sure that's a '92 Cooper. The seam on the leather parts where the waist band comes nearest the zipper box is what I'm looking at. If it is, you're going to love that G-1! I predict that it will have some of the best goat skin that you've seen on a G-1 of any age.

AF

 

[Atticus]

 

[MikeyB-17]

I confess a 'modern' G-1 never occurred to me, although I have no problem with that, especially going by Atticus' experience. I didn't stop to do too much investigating, although I thought the leather looked good even in those lousy pics. As has been mentioned, for that price I won't complain too much. Again, we shall see.

 

[MikeyB-17]

Well, Atticus me old China, you were, of course, absolutely right. It arrived today. I confess I had misgivings about this one, having used my usual technique of buying jackets with lousy pics from ill-educated sellers, I thought I might have lost my touch and bought a pig in a poke. It was very much a case of shoot first and ask questions later with this one-'forty quid? I'm having it.' Only when Andrew mentioned Cooper did I think about a 'modern' G-1, and then a closer look at the pics gave me reason to suspect that that was probably the case. I've only ever owned early 60's G-1's, always steering clear of the newer, Dynel-collared versions, and if I'm honest if I knew that was what it was I probably wouldn't have bought it. Mistake!!
Fits great-the label is utterly illegible, it's a white papery job-correct for a Cooper? I took a pic. Immediate first impression, the goat is indeed the nicest I've seen on any of the several G-1's I've owned, even the last Irvin B. Foster I had which was always my favourite. This stuff is thick and grainy as Hell, and immediately justifies the purchase price. A few scuffs but otherwise no significant damage. Collar is brown Dynel, not bad actually, bit matted but perfectly serviceable (is there a way to spruce this stuff up a bit?). Cuffs are, as stated, absolutely knackered and need replacing. Waistband is double ply and barring a few snags, fine. Lining is, as almost always on G-1s, undamaged. It has two Velcro patches on the chest and USN on the windflap. (I also worried the windflap might have been cut off, in which case it was going back from whence it came.) Scovill paperclip zip in good nick and working fine. On the whole I consider myself to have obtained excellent value for my £40 (breaking my previous record for a G-1 of £75). It wears really well, draping really nicely when unzipped and looking very cool. I may keep this one a while. Photos have been edited in (spit) Photobucket but are still on their sides. I'm hoping they'll sort their lives out later.

 

[dmar836]

Looks good. Played the part for someone at one point.
Atticus, is that your PA-20/22?
Dave

 

[Peter Graham]

That's nice looking goatskin Mike. Looks like a Biggles style 'tache you're developing there mate.

 

[Atticus]

-the label is utterly illegible, it's a white papery job-correct for a Cooper?

Great snag, Mike! Yes, the Coopers had a squarish, paper tag. Here's a photo of the one in my jacket.

The reason I'm guessing its a Cooper...other than the goatskin...is the presence of two little seams along the tops of the leather thingies down beside the zipper box. You know...where the waist band ends meet the leather. OK, I know that isn't well described, so here's an illustration of what I'm talking about. Please forgive my pitiful attempt at art.

Anyhow, I don't know of any other modern G-1 that has these seams. I may be wrong, but I think they may be unique to Cooper.

AF

POST EDIT: Well...just as soon as I wrote the above, I noticed that a D-series G-1 on eBay also has the seams I drew. So maybe its not unique to Cooper after all.