Interesting Aviators Clothing jacket.

[Pilot]

Listed several times via brokers.
Maybe interesting for its label and zipper.
Real vintage!

Vintage 20's 30's AVIATION CLOTHING Aviator Leather Jacket Size M Brown Rare | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage 20's 30's AVIATION CLOTHING Aviator Leather Jacket Size M Brown Rare at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[MikeyB-17]

Made by Spalding, presumably the same Spalding that made baseball gloves and the like. Not surprising, considering several other sportswear companies had military contracts for flying gear. Wonder why they never got a contract for A-2’s or Navy jackets.

 

[mulceber]

Looks like capeskin too - if so, it's in great condition for a capeskin jacket that old.

 

[Nickb123]

Paging @Skyhawk

 

[Kermit3D]

It looks like this jacket produced by Bill Kelso :

Bill Kelso Civilian Aviators A-1 Jacket

Based on a A.G Spalding sports jacket from the 1930's, Bill Kelso in conjunction with ourselves have reproduced the jacket with all the details that make is quite special. Based on an early USAF A-1 style of flying jacket from the early 1930's this jacket keeps the same design and components but...

www.americanclassicslondon.com

"Based on a A.G Spalding sports jacket from the 1930's, Bill Kelso in conjunction with ourselves have reproduced the jacket with all the details that make is quite special. Based on an early USAF A-1 style of flying jacket from the early 1930's this jacket keeps the same design and components but replaces the buttoned front found on earlier jackets for a early separating 'cage' zipper, giving this jacket the perfect cross between the A-1 & A-2 styles. The knitted button collar of the A-1 is replaced by a simple knitted ribbed collar as seen on may varsity jackets and retains the knitted cuffs and ribbing round the waist. Most striking are the shapes of the pockets which are cut in a deep 'V' shape which grabs the eye.

The prototype of this jacket was made in Bill Kelso's Liberty Horse Hide and with red russet knits, our initial intention was a cape skin version with golden knits, but the prototype was so stunning we put the jacket in to production! We only added a useful interior snapped slash pocket .

We couldn't use the 'Spalding' name as the company still exists, but the RoughWear version of the civilian Aviators label is just as good."

 

[MikeyB-17]

You’re not wrong!

 

[Nickb123]

Just found this book!

 

[CBI]

yes, fun book. Wow, love that Kelso - NICE!!!!!!

 

[mulceber]

Just found this book!

View attachment 64229

I was curious, and that book looked interesting, so I checked eBay and was able to get a copy for $9.

 

[johnwayne]

Nice that Kelso, just not sure about those accentuated pointy pocket flaps! £900 too, it’s getting crazy, mind you American Classics have never been keenly priced but then being based in London’s Covent Garden don’t help!!

 

[Maverickson]

Hi All,

What I find interesting is that original jacket does not have a yoke type back panel verses it's referenced repro.

That zip is the same as seen on one of my early 1930s work jacket and as seen below.

Which tells me that referenced Aviators Clothing Spalding jacket does not predate the early 1930s.
Cheers, Dave

 

[fleet16b]

Lovely early jacket
A shame about the dry rot but still a rare survivor