Tim,
Sorry for taking so long to post.
The jacket you mentioned is somewhat of an enigma but has much more going for it than some of my jackets. It is named but I have not researched it. It came from a fellow who was refurbishing a B&B out in the country near here. I don't think he was a collector(just nostalgic). We must have come into contact on one of the militaria "for sale" boards of the 90's. I traded a repro M42 jacket and trousers to him. He admitted to wearing the cap in a parade or two in their small town. He also claimed he got this group from the original owner who was well-known in his community. He mentioned the low quarter shoes he had from him but as I said I lost track of the guy. He made no note of the English patch or anything else that I recall so I don't think he knew the significance. I agree that the lack of the PTO ribbon is problematic. You can see in the following pic that there are other holes where the ribbon bars were once located. If I recall, the bars were mounted incorrectly and/or the unit citation was also on the left breast. Perhaps the ribbons were in a drawer or maybe there is a missing ribbon as well - the PTO.
Here are two more pics that lend to the authenticity of the piece and give me confidence it wasn't "put together".
The right shoulder. Nicely applied, English-made, and appears period-done.
I was quite pleased to find this in the left breast pocket! I would have it under the wings but it's a bit thick for the clutch-back wings to hold.
Thanks for pointing this PTO thing out as I had completely forgotten about that.
Question: If I can ever verify the man's records, should I add a PTO ribbon? I have yet to do this to any of my pieces, and have a real moral issue with this, but when is there ever an invitation to "correct" a piece? Anyone?
Dave
Kansas City, USA
Sorry for taking so long to post.
The jacket you mentioned is somewhat of an enigma but has much more going for it than some of my jackets. It is named but I have not researched it. It came from a fellow who was refurbishing a B&B out in the country near here. I don't think he was a collector(just nostalgic). We must have come into contact on one of the militaria "for sale" boards of the 90's. I traded a repro M42 jacket and trousers to him. He admitted to wearing the cap in a parade or two in their small town. He also claimed he got this group from the original owner who was well-known in his community. He mentioned the low quarter shoes he had from him but as I said I lost track of the guy. He made no note of the English patch or anything else that I recall so I don't think he knew the significance. I agree that the lack of the PTO ribbon is problematic. You can see in the following pic that there are other holes where the ribbon bars were once located. If I recall, the bars were mounted incorrectly and/or the unit citation was also on the left breast. Perhaps the ribbons were in a drawer or maybe there is a missing ribbon as well - the PTO.
Here are two more pics that lend to the authenticity of the piece and give me confidence it wasn't "put together".
The right shoulder. Nicely applied, English-made, and appears period-done.
I was quite pleased to find this in the left breast pocket! I would have it under the wings but it's a bit thick for the clutch-back wings to hold.
Thanks for pointing this PTO thing out as I had completely forgotten about that.
Question: If I can ever verify the man's records, should I add a PTO ribbon? I have yet to do this to any of my pieces, and have a real moral issue with this, but when is there ever an invitation to "correct" a piece? Anyone?
Dave
Kansas City, USA
