Original Maker A2, Who Makes Them Now?

[33-1729]

Given the feedback thus far, it's remarkable how many original maker reproductions have been made. Who will be the first with a V505?

 

[Ken at Aero Leather]

Given the feedback thus far, it's remarkable how many original maker reproductions have been made. Who will be the first with a V505?

I wouldn't hold your breath, the "Made In Australia" on the label looks like a legal deal-breaker unless someone in Oz makes one, even then the cost of the correct trimmings would probably outweigh any prospect of a profit, I doubt if there is much of a market for these.

We are currently working towards offering all seven Aero contracts as has been our plan for a few years now but making civvy jackets keeps getting in the way!,
The W535ac16160 is in sampling stage, we've got the labels and correct lining, should be on the site by late summer. That just leaves W535ac21996 and 37-3061 P but we are struggling to keep up with orders for the contracts we are already offering so we'll need to train up a few more machinists on Type A-2s before we go much further.

 

[33-1729]

Great to hear business is doing so well!

Have received good feedback on the summary chart thus far and found a few updates to make (Cooper repro missing, RMC RW 23380 missing, etc.). Looking for more feedback (current Bronco A.C.-1761 repro?), so when the ALC 16160 comes out I'll post an updated chart.

 

[seres]

....We are currently working towards offering all seven Aero contracts.....The W535ac16160 is in sampling stage, we've got the labels and correct lining, should be on the site by late summer.....

Great news!

 

[Bombing IP]

Ken did you ever think that the repro market would go all the way to making all the different makers versions when you started out . Or did you think that a repro maker would pick a design and stay with it .To me the market has become more sophisticated because of the makers making so many maker A-2 jackets . The spinoff is the buyers have become more knowledgeable ,or is it the other way round buyers wanting the maker to produce more makers . Also has the A2 market in the repro side ever peaked or is it still climbing in sales . You would think that the interest in the A-2 type is very minor knowing most people think it is just a brown jacket if you asked someone .

BIP

 

[Ken at Aero Leather]

Ken did you ever think that the repro market would go all the way to making all the different makers versions when you started out .

**********Not even for a moment

Or did you think that a repro maker would pick a design and stay with it .

***********We started off by making an Aero labelled copy of the 1756 contract (Invented contract no dated 1945) as the 1756 was, and still is, my favourite A-2, the cut, collar etc IMO surpass all others (1938 Aero would be my second choice). The busier we got, the more machinists we needed to train and most had problems with the stand collar.
At that point we decided to make an A-2 as if we were pitching the USAAF for a new contract. We took the basic 42-15142-P and improved where we saw areas that could be improved. For instance, more sculpured pocket flap, rounded pocket corners, the top stitch on the side seam would technically we better if it was rolled so the top stitch was on the front, not the back, less chance of snagging the raised fold in the tight confines of an aircraft.

I can't remember when we added a third A-2, (1938 Aero or Bronco?) nor can I recall exactly when we started making a clone 42-15142-P, that was when we changed the side seam stitch back to the original, added "Beacon NY" to the label etc.......mid 90's???

To me the market has become more sophisticated because of the makers making so many maker A-2 jackets . The spinoff is the buyers have become more knowledgeable ,or is it the other way round buyers wanting the maker to produce more makers . Also has the A2 market in the repro side ever peaked or is it still climbing in sales .

***********It's hard to say as there are so many other companies making A-2 than when we started but I'd say it peaked in the late 1980s.

You would think that the interest in the A-2 type is very minor knowing most people think it is just a brown jacket if you asked someone .

***********Generally? Yes. Oddly enough I think Top Gun, Kelly's Hero's and Tales of the Golden Monkey were the main factors in it's poplarity rather than The Great Escape (and not a true A-2 in any of the three) That's based on my experience of selling originals in 70s and 80s

 

[colekwok]

To me the market has become more sophisticated because of the makers making so many maker A-2 jackets . The spinoff is the buyers have become more knowledgeable ,or is it the other way round buyers wanting the maker to produce more makers . Also has the A2 market in the repro side ever peaked or is it still climbing in sales . You would think that the interest in the A-2 type is very minor knowing most people think it is just a brown jacket if you asked someone .
BIP

After hanging around at this place (and the other forums) for a few years, I suspect that there are two main types of A-2 or flight jacket buyers, there are a huge number of fashion followers who acquire an A-2 just because it was a must have in the past few seasons; the other considerably smaller group (like most of us here), are those who just got addicted and keep on buying multiple patterns. I always think that it is a matter of supply and demand, that is why we currently have so many makers. But one thing that frustrates me is, in contrast to the increased number of makers, the average price keeps on going up when you think competition means competitive prices. I had 1.5% pay rise in the past 5years and some makers almost doubled their prices.

 

[Turntabloid]

33-1729, thank you for the excellent chart!

As far as I understand, GW is also making the RW 23380 contract and others not listed in the re-manufacturer column of the chart.
These are not visible on the GW main page and I have not found GW photos of the RW 23380 contract yet, but they are selectable in the GW order form.

I tried to mark as many as possible.
Sorry, for any newbie mistakes and questions!

Here is the full GW A-2 order sheet list:

A-2 Bronco Mfg. Co.
A-2 Cooper Sportswear
A-2 David D. Doniger
A-2 Dubow 20960 - collar stand
A-2 Dubow 23379 - stand or no stand
A-2 Dubow 27798 - simple collar
A-2 Dubow 1755 - simple collar
A-2 Cable Raincoat 42-10008-P
A-2 I. Chapman & Sons
A-2 Monarch Mfg. Co.
A-2 Perry Sportswear 16175
A-2 Perry Sportswear 23377
A-2 Poughkeepsie
A-2 Rough Wear W535-AC-18091
A-2 Rough Wear 42-1401-P
A-2 Rough Wear W535-AC-23380
A-2 Rough Wear W535-AC-27752
A-2 Security Aviation Togs
A-2 Star Sportswear
A-2 United Sheeplined
A-2 Werber Sportswear 1936 (Is that the W535ac9193 contract?)
A-2 Werber Sportswear 1939 (Is that the W535ac12091 contract?)
A-2 Werber Sportswear 42-1402-P
A-2 W535-AC-23383 (Fried-Ostermann)
A-2 W535-AC-27753 (Cable)
A-2 42-18246-P (S.H. Knopf)
A-2 Acme Leather 38-1711-P
A-2 Aero Leather W535-AC-16160
A-2 Acme Leather W535-AC-21996
A-2 Aero Leather 42-18775-P

(http://www.goodwearleather.com/machform/view.php?id=1)

 

[33-1729]

33-1729, thank you for the excellent chart!

As far as I understand, GW is also making the RW 23380 contract and others not listed in the re-manufacturer column of the chart.
These are not visible on the GW main page and I have not found GW photos of the RW 23380 contract yet, but they are selectable in the GW order form.

I tried to mark as many as possible.
Sorry, for any newbie mistakes and questions!

Here is the full GW A-2 order sheet list:

A-2 Bronco Mfg. Co.
A-2 Cooper Sportswear
A-2 David D. Doniger
A-2 Dubow 20960 - collar stand
A-2 Dubow 23379 - stand or no stand
A-2 Dubow 27798 - simple collar
A-2 Dubow 1755 - simple collar
A-2 Cable Raincoat 42-10008-P
A-2 I. Chapman & Sons
A-2 Monarch Mfg. Co.
A-2 Perry Sportswear 16175
A-2 Perry Sportswear 23377
A-2 Poughkeepsie
A-2 Rough Wear W535-AC-18091
A-2 Rough Wear 42-1401-P
A-2 Rough Wear W535-AC-23380
A-2 Rough Wear W535-AC-27752
A-2 Security Aviation Togs
A-2 Star Sportswear
A-2 United Sheeplined
A-2 Werber Sportswear 1936 (Is that the W535ac9193 contract?)
A-2 Werber Sportswear 1939 (Is that the W535ac12091 contract?)
A-2 Werber Sportswear 42-1402-P
A-2 W535-AC-23383 (Fried-Ostermann)
A-2 W535-AC-27753 (Cable)
A-2 42-18246-P (S.H. Knopf)
A-2 Acme Leather 38-1711-P
A-2 Aero Leather W535-AC-16160
A-2 Acme Leather W535-AC-21996
A-2 Aero Leather 42-18775-P

(http://www.goodwearleather.com/machform/view.php?id=1)

Thank you for the feedback. Check out http://www.vintageleatherjackets.org/threads/spec-94-3040-jackets-flying-type-a-2.20139/#post-186387 for the updated list.

 

[B-Man2]

Thank you for the info