Irvin - another iron in the fire :-)

[Dani-B]

ELC's 1944 pattern Devon fleece Irvin Flight Jacket is back in the market.

http://www.eastmanleather.com/product_i ... cts_id=260

Regards Dani

 

[Dr H]

Should it have one of those incredibly rare, phenomenally expensive elastic straps at the back of the collar?

That's also a very shaggy fleece in comparison with the real thing shown on the right...

 

[John Lever]

 

[stevetfire]

It's all gone Irvin mad :? .....you could'nt make it up,

 

[Andrew]

Should it have one of those incredibly rare, phenomenally expensive elastic straps at the back of the collar?...

They'd deleted them by that stage in the War. Not a lot of open cockpit work happening on the job.

 

[Dr H]

Hmmm...thought not. Oddly elementary mistake to make, having gone to the trouble with other details?

 

[Andrew]

My mistake. Such things did exist. I just checked my '44 dated jacket (not as many panels at that one though), and it has a strap :shock: . It does seem superfluous however.

 

[Dr H]

Thanks Andrew, I've still got a lot to learn about Irvins...still waiting for that book if your namesake is reading

 

[John Lever]

I have been told that this batch has much softer skins and silkier fleece.

 

[Roughwear]

Most later War jackets did not have the fittings for the elastic strap as it was really a hang-over from the open cockpit era. Most of the post 1943 jackets that I have seen with them were refurbished earlier jackets under the 40288 contract awarded in 1944.

 

[Otter]

My mistake. Such things did exist. I just checked my '44 dated jacket (not as many panels at that one though), and it has a strap :shock: . It does seem superfluous however.

IIRC these jackets were also used by the Fleet Air Arm, it was still operating the Swordfish and most RAF basic trainers were still open cockpit types.

 

[rich]

these jackets were also used by the Fleet Air Arm, it was still operating the Swordfish

 

[John Lever]

Rob Brace at Eastman has told me that the latest skins are much softer than the first batch and that the fleece is dense and curly and lacks the sparse coarseness. They sold out in a day !

 

[m444uk]

Rob Brace at Eastman has told me that the latest skins are much softer than the first batch and that the fleece is dense and curly and lacks the sparse coarseness. They sold out in a day !

I was going to say the price of those was completely nuts until I saw this at £1k.

The best ever seal B3 repro though. Retailers seem to get the time worn spec. jackets without the heavy time worn finish.
I had a look at one at American Classics in London the other day.

http://www.peggsandson.com/newest-stock ... acket.html

Cheap B3's here

http://www.mrmuddandmrgold.com/en/categ ... acket.html

 

[omarco]

^^^ thats a lovely looking B3, does anyone know if it's going to be available from eastman direct at some stage? hopefully for a more sensible price

 

[John Lever]

^^^ thats a lovely looking B3, does anyone know if it's going to be available from eastman direct at some stage? hopefully for a more sensible price

Yes, They are available for order when materials are re -stocked.