Interesting original A2-any ideas here?

[Roughwear]

http://cgi.ebay.com/WW2-HORSEHIDE-PRE-W ... 19bc24b408

This no name A2 is tagged from the 1756 contract which dates from 1944. There has been speculation as to the maker and other examples from the contract are similar to Perry Sportswear.

There is a document dated 13 June, 1944, from Maj. Gen B.E. Meyers, Office, Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Materiel, Maintenance and Distribution showing that orders were placed from:

Perry Sportswear, Newburgh, New York, Jacket, leather, Type A-2 25,000
J.A. Dubow, Chicago, Ill Jacket, Leather, Type A-2 35,000

The Dubow was the W33-038ac1755 contract and the last Perry contract was from 1942-3, the 1756 contract, which has the typical Perry collar stand, Conmar Zipper, similar shaped pockets was most likely the contract referred to. These jackets only appear in smaller sizes.

However, the Ebay A2 does not have all the typical features of the 1756 contract. The pockets are similar to those on Star A2s and the collar is pointed and this example has the triangular zipper reinforcement stitching not normally found on the contract.

I know that the USAAF often supplied the spec labels the contractors, especially those with no name labels and if the 1756 contract was awarded to Perry, which is likely, as it is the next contract number after the above 1944 Dubow contract, did Perry sub-contract it to another maker? Alternatively it may not be from this 1756 contract at all. The greenish lining and yellow stitching to the label might indicate a civi jacket and the label was a later addition.

Any ideas on this?

 

[deeb7]

... and this example has the triangular zipper reinforcement stitching not normally found on the contract.

... Alternatively it may not be from this 1756 contract at all. The greenish lining and yellow stitching to the label might indicate a civi jacket and the label was a later addition.

The reinforcement stitching may have been added when the zipper was replaced, and with a new lining as well, yes, the label could have been added.

The seller thinks it's a Star, but then he also thinks it's pre war.

With the document you reference, showing orders to Perry, and Dubow ... it's surprising that the Bronco contract doesn't appear.

 

[zoomer]

The smaller sizes could be due to the scarcity of good hides, and wanting them to go further. Larger guys would have to settle for a B-15.

 

[Roughwear]

I have studied the collar photo and agree the lining is a replacement as remnants of the original can are evident. So which mfg made it?

 

[Silver Surfer]

star.

 

[deeb7]

... but it has a collar stand.

 

[Roughwear]

If it was made by Star Sportwear it's the first one I have ever seen with a collar stand. It may be that this late contract was sub-contracted to another maker by Perry Sportswear who may not have been able to cope with an order for 25,000 A2s. Star never made A2s with collar stands, so why would they start in 1944? The stitching on the pocket is quite different from that on Stars. It also has triangular zipper reinforcement stitching which Stars did not have. The collar shape is not the same as on Stars. My guess is it was made by an unidentified maker.

 

[Grant]

Obviously the lining, zip and spec label have all been replaced and very poorly at that. This jacket is from a very rare contract indeed - Frankenstine.

BTW, where did you hear the UAAF supplied spec labels? Would love to see documentation on that.

Interesting that if the zip is replaced it's with an early Hershey Talon.

 

[Roughwear]

Grant, I have discussed the no name jackets with John Chapman and he has evidence that sometimes the USAAF had contract labels ordered before they decided who to award a contract to. He also says they also organised the supply of hardwear etc.. to some contractors.

From the horse's mouth:

I was the one who said that parts would have been supplied to the contractors from the AAC. I've seen some documentation of this in Japanese flight jacket books (some of the more obscure ones). This explains the no-name labels, as they would have been produced before a company was picked for a contract, and snaps, zippers, linings, and knits would have been sourced from local or semi-local businesses via an Army contractor who studied acceptable mfg'ers for their compliance with AAC and federal regulations. A contract would be let for knits or zippers, etc, and those parts would be shipped to the factory for the A-2s. Note how the Knopf A-2s (18246-P) and Star A-2s have extremely similar horsehide and linings, and both are from Boston, and then the Knopf labels and no-name 1756 labels are identical, from the same company. Star and Perry had the same label company, but were in different towns. Rough Wear and Cooper had the same label company, too. A contract manager probably had a label maker produce the label sets once the contracts were ready to be let, and then sent them to RW and Cooper.


The big deal for these contracts was that all the parts adhere to AAC and federal specs. This was no easy thing to pull off, and I've heard from one person, who talked with a Rough Wear worker (not Margaretta Hartwell from the ELC book...I've talked with her) that the AAC inspector for RW was a hard person. He would stop work on a floor and walk around looking at each work station, looking for problems.

 

[Grant]

Thanks, John is probably right. All this speculation is what makes this hobby fun.