Price increase, so Lost world or Goodwear HH A2?

[PaulGT3]

I havent seen a price increase in Lost worlds A2s and I know Johns are the best A2s but now
there is a almost $600 difference between a Goodwear HH A2 and a Lost World HH A2. Does
this move you one way or the other?
I havent seen a Lost World Price increase so if there is I apologize in advance.
if you were going to order one today that is.

 

[Dr H]

Personally, I rarely order bespoke from John (due to price/wait time), but do go directly to him for originals or test jackets, so the current pricing won't impact too heavily on my buying habits.

I'll continue to go the Forum or EBay route for used GW if I'm seeking a particular contract (e.g. I'm looking for a Doniger A-2) as my size (44) is reasonably common, but I don't have a large collection. My jackets are used a lot depending on weather/season and get sold on if they're not getting wear.

However, it's about quality and accuracy/detailing for me - would I buy a LW jacket? Not to wear, regardless of the price, unless I were buying low to flip it.

JMO...

 

[Vcruiser]

My first repro A2 was a LW Dubow.
The HH and finish is quite different than other top repro makers. You either like it ..or don't care for it at all. I sold mine years ago since I much prefer other offerings.

 

[John Lever]

They are like chalk and cheese. Listen to others who have been there..
I am no A-2 fan but even I can say the difference is vast, others I know and respect will agree.

 

[Roughwear]

John had good reasons for raising his prices. To quote John:

With Vickie and Tiffany working with me, I need to make more cash. I have a queue of 150 jackets, which is insanity. That just has to stop. Raising prices should really slow things down.

 

[John Lever]

Makes sense. Car makers do it all the time, particularly BMW, they are not interested in being the cheapest.

 

[havocpaul]

It's not or shouldn't be about price, if you want accuracy and the best quality you pay for it..always, no matter what the item is. Eastman had some flak (unfairly IMO) a while back about their prices, shows costs whether be wages, materials etc all have to be a factor when making high-end jackets. As far as the original question above, I only ever owned one LW A-2 and it wasn't to my liking, too heavy, stiff and lacking in areas regarding true accuracy to the maker they were surposed to be copying. There are better choices out there....

 

[bretron]

If GW is knocked out of the running, I say go for a Kelso

 

[regius]

LW Dubow is not intended to be an exact copy according to Stuart. They seem to have sampled a couple of Dubows and decided to take an average of all the specimen. The big worry is, has there EVER been a Dubow that used ring studs????? This is the most that concerns me, other than that, I quite like the fitting and the indestructible sewing. Also, the pocket asymmetry (or symmetry along the stitch line according to John) is not set in stone, on Gary's A2 ID book, there is a Dubow 27798 with different pocket arrangements.

 

[CBI]

GW is still the way to go over LW. If not, try Superior Flight Apparel or Kelso.

 

[PaulGT3]

I never saw John's comment posted by Andrew.
That makes alot of sense. I still think he should hire an apprentice and sell their trainer jackets like Aero does.
But he has to do what he has to do as a business man to protect his company. If thats what he has to do then go
for it. That shows he has the best product on the market.

John, I dont think BMW raises their prices to slow down production, otherwise they wouldnt have built a plant in
South Carolina. They will sell as many as they can sell and will up production to meet demand. I have had 7 BMWs
and they will cut any deal they have to (even when I make a silly offer) with me to sell a car. Right now I have the X5M. I was looking at a Porsche Cayenne S and when
my dealer heard I was looking he sold me the top of the line X5M for less than the Cayenne S goes for
Even Porsche wont cut production even
when they hint at "limited production" like they kinda hinted with the recent GT3(hince my forum name) and the GT2s
in 2007 and 2008, they didnt pretend so much in the next generation GT cars. Even if Porsche is nearing the end of a run.

THe car industry is so fickle its hard to say what they would do. But I get your point.

 

[Jeff M]

Goodwear over LW.
Superior Flight Apparel up there with GW when it comes to quality of workmanship, material. Just not as extensive a selection.

 

[bseal]

Lost World's baby!

 

[PaulGT3]

Superior Flight Apparel? they list GW jackets. Do they make their own?

 

[CBI]

Superior Flight Apparel is Mark Fisher's company. Another one person operation. He has made far fewer jackets than John and does not have a huge stock of supplies but the Lincoln Brigade jacket he recently made for me is the highest caliber of work one can find. Mark does not have a load of different options/contracts but its great stuff!

He and JC go in on orders for hide so Mark frequently uses the same leather. My LB jackets was made with the same capeskin that JC currently uses for his A-1's.

 

[PaulGT3]

I was just looking at Johns Californian, I think Mark makes one too. Just fantastic!!

 

[Jeff M]

Aside from at least one A2 contract I know of, Mark very much uses his own designs....not all of which are shown on his web site.
One example is the "Lincoln Brigade" model he made for CBI.
Another is a design he got interested in a few months ago that I happened to ask him about at the same time. I should be receiving it sometime in the next few weeks.

 

[FlyingYankee]

I will only buy Goodwear.

Gran Dad said "If you buy something, buy it once!"

Dad Said "Nothing truly good comes cheap or easy"

I say The only A-2 that fit my Ape like arms is a Goodwear, The Rolex of flightjackets.

 

[PaulGT3]

Well Yankee Sir, you can see my knowledge grow just over the course of this thread. I had one
GW HH A2 , when I posted this. Now that I have 3 goodwears, what you say is totally true.
I marvel at these jackets, just marvel.
I would say however if you were a college kid on your way up there is no reason to not buy a
USA while you build your self worth. I had a Porsche 914 when I was in college and now
I had some of the best 911's Porsche has made. Same type of situation. IF you want an A2 badly
and are in college or just starting out, get another one, and make your plan for your Goodwear later.
But if you are in the stage of life we are, older out of college (I am retired)
then I say get the GW and get what you want. Life is too short NOT to.
I will say one thing though Mr Chapman's Jackets hold their value better than
my 911s did. His Jackets are an investment!
Your Rolex analogy was spot on.