Norshor Aero A-2: is it a good jacket?

[mulceber]

I’m not big on the aged look. I want a regular jacket that will age on its own after years of hard wearing.

All well and good, but if you're looking to buy one of the later Aeros in seal, the kind of pre-aging that Mark is doing is accurate:

These originals aged to that blotchy seal-russet color quite quickly - probably within a couple months. As near as we can tell, the leather was tanned as a very red russet, but then was hurriedly re-dyed to a dark seal without bothering to apply a sealant afterward. All this was before the jackets were even made. The resulting jackets aged very quickly - definitely not over the course of years. That's the effect Mark is trying to achieve, and he's doing it very well.

 

[WingAndaPrayer]

All well and good, but if you're looking to buy one of the later Aeros in seal, the kind of pre-aging that Mark is doing is accurate:
View attachment 81336
View attachment 81337

These originals aged to that blotchy seal-russet color quite quickly - probably within a couple months. As near as we can tell, the leather was tanned as a very red russet, but then was hurriedly re-dyed to a dark seal without bothering to apply a sealant afterward. All this was before the jackets were even made. The resulting jackets aged very quickly - definitely not over the course of years. That's the effect Mark is trying to achieve, and he's doing it very well.

I did not know that about the originals.

 

[coolhandluke]

All well and good, but if you're looking to buy one of the later Aeros in seal, the kind of pre-aging that Mark is doing is accurate:
View attachment 81336
View attachment 81337

These originals aged to that blotchy seal-russet color quite quickly - probably within a couple months. As near as we can tell, the leather was tanned as a very red russet, but then was hurriedly re-dyed to a dark seal without bothering to apply a sealant afterward. All this was before the jackets were even made. The resulting jackets aged very quickly - definitely not over the course of years. That's the effect Mark is trying to achieve, and he's doing it very well.

Fantastic photos Jan. Thanks for sharing these. I honestly didn't know that was specifically what Mark was replicating. I incorrectly assumed that it was Norshor's version of a combat clone...similar to what Mark did with my Dubow.

 

[mulceber]

Fantastic photos Jan. Thanks for sharing these. I honestly didn't know that was specifically what Mark was replicating. I incorrectly assumed that it was Norshor's version of a combat clone...similar to what Mark did with my Dubow.

Well, you're not wrong - it is a type of combat cloning. It's just meant to resemble what these particular jackets looked like after a couple months, rather than a couple years. It's just such a weird leather, I'm not sure there would be a way to make a new jacket that would be guaranteed to age that way. Here's Diamond Dave's attempt at the same effect that Mark is going for:

 

[Nickb123]

By all pictorial evidence, doesn’t look like a good jacket. Rather, a great jacket.

 

[WingAndaPrayer]

I have some hide samples on the way, and mark has my measurements. The ball is rolling people! Obligatory pictures to come… so stay tuned.

 

[Silver Surfer]

Or you can purchase my brand new bk 16161 aero, and screw around with it all ya want. That, or just wear it and let it age naturally.

 

[Dany McDonald]

I have some hide samples on the way, and mark has my measurements. The ball is rolling people! Obligatory pictures to come… so stay tuned

Hello,

Are you going for a plain seal or an opaque redye seal over russet?

Really interested into how this goes, keep us posted.

Dany

 

[WingAndaPrayer]

Hello,

Are you going for a plain seal or an opaque redye seal over russet?

Really interested into how this goes, keep us posted.

Dany

I’m still thinking about that. Those leather samples will help a lot in my decision.

 

[coolhandluke]

I vote for the standard seal with berry red knits. Absolutely stunning jacket IMO.

 

[johnwayne]

I did mention to Mark some while back and its purely personal but I just think those berry knits are too red! Think he does a more subtle, truer to originals berry knit too. Always liked and said many times here how much I like the seal berry combo. A man can only have so much russet!!!

 

[CBI]

thats a great looking seal A-2 but yes, way toooooo red on the knits. However...............might be all Mark has/had at the time AND, perhaps when these jackets were NEW 80+ years ago, the red was really red, no idea.

 

[Micawber]

Mine isn't anywhere near as red as that in the knits dept.

 

[coolhandluke]

Mine isn't anywhere near as red as that in the knits dept.

Agreed...I think the knits appear to be less bright in person that they are in Mark's photos. I've always chalked it up to saturation/ color enhancements that were made to the photos.

Edit: It looks like I may be incorrect on the info above. Below are photos of the current berry knits that Mark is using, and yes they are as bright as they appear on the jackets above.

 

[Micawber]

Agreed...I think the knits appear to be less bright in person that they are in Mark's photos. I've always chalked it up to saturation/ color enhancements that were made to the photos.

Edit: It looks like I may be incorrect on the info above. Below are photos of the current berry knits that Mark is using, and yes they are as bright as they appear on the jackets above.

View attachment 81487

Looks like it. Going back through correspondence with Mark apparently the subdued knits on mine were some he hand dyed, apologies for unintentionally leading you up the garden path so to speak.

 

[fishmeok]

HI guys- sorry I have not been on the forum last few months, got married in July and am still trying to catch up from having family over for about a month and a half. The super bright red knits are something that a lot of people have requested so I had some made up. I also have more subdued red as well as the usual shades of brown, etc.

 

[Chandler]

...and am still trying to catch up from having family over for about a month and a half.

Holy s***! That sounds like a bad nightmare!

Did they hang out because they couldn't believe you got married (my family would)? Or because you were footing the bill (my family would)?

 

[Micawber]

HI guys- sorry I have not been on the forum last few months, got married in July and am still trying to catch up from having family over for about a month and a half. The super bright red knits are something that a lot of people have requested so I had some made up. I also have more subdued red as well as the usual shades of brown, etc.

Congratulations on your marriage.

 

[Silver Surfer]

Married? Hmmm….. well, welcome to the abusement park, and whole new world of honey dos.

 

[fishmeok]

Holy s***! That sounds like a bad nightmare!

Did they hang out because they couldn't believe you got married (my family would)? Or because you were footing the bill (my family would)?

Well, My daughter lives in Belgium so she and my grandaughter and her S.O. stayed for about a month. We then went to IA to visit my wife's family...