ausreenactor
Well-Known Member
Had one years ago... my first repro.... big front to it... and lots of fabric flopping around if you take the stiffener ring and foam out..
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Repro Crushers
- Thread starter jschare
- Start date
ShanghaiJack
Well-Known Member
Diamond Dave made the perfect repro, sadly no more.
I've been on a waiting list with Society for 5 or so years,
for a repro....
Hornbeam seems to be getting quite the buzz in another thread:
https://www.vintageleatherjackets.org/threads/hornbeam-militaria-usaaf-crusher.26372/
Hornbeam Crusher
Tails Up!
SJ
I've been on a waiting list with Society for 5 or so years,
for a repro....
Hornbeam seems to be getting quite the buzz in another thread:
https://www.vintageleatherjackets.org/threads/hornbeam-militaria-usaaf-crusher.26372/
Hornbeam Crusher
Tails Up!
SJ
ausreenactor
Well-Known Member
Have two Diamond crushers.. OD and a Pink / OD combo...
warguy
Well-Known Member
The cap I listed in post #9 is currently listed on eBay and can be found here:
I wrote the seller about the cap and this was his reply:
Good morning Kevin,
Thank you for your enquiry. The caps are my own brand and have been on the market for about 2 years now.
They are hand made and generally made to order and available in officer or enlisted versions in the following fabrics:-
Olive Drab (Dark Shade 51) 21oz 100% wool (Elastique)
Drab (Light Shade 54) 'Pink' 21oz 100% wool (Elastique)
Drab (Light Shade 54) 'Pink') 16oz 100% wool (Barathea)
Khaki (Shade No.1) 8oz 100% wool (Tropical Worsted)
Khaki (Shade No.1) 8oz 100% cotton twill
Olive Drab (Shade 33) 100% wool serge - Special Order only
The visors are 2 ply (lined with suede) as per the majority of Flighters and are flexible.
Waiting time is around 4-6 weeks due to other orders.
I do not currently have a website.
Hope this helps.
Best wishes,
Mike
The cap from the photos looks high quality and I love the lower crown and crusher look. I took a leap of faith and hit buy it now for the one in the eBay listing as it was my size. The eBay sale indicates I shouldn have the cap by August 27 with International shipping. Once I receive it I will do a review here. I know it was pricey, but still much less than the Society brand. I would have waited maybe for a Society brand as they use the Bancroft labels, but after hearing there might be a five year wait, I decided to take a chance on this one. Hopefully this might help others who are looking for what appears to be a quality repro.
Anyway, here are photos of other hats available the seller sent:
Repro WW2 USAAF Air Force Officer Crusher Cap Hat Flighter Style 100% Wool OD51 | eBay
Officer's dark olive rayon cap band. 'Officer's, Cap, Service'. Interior - satin lined with sweat shield & cotton maker's label. Visor - Russet leather - 'Roll-edged' & suede lined.
www.ebay.com
I wrote the seller about the cap and this was his reply:
Good morning Kevin,
Thank you for your enquiry. The caps are my own brand and have been on the market for about 2 years now.
They are hand made and generally made to order and available in officer or enlisted versions in the following fabrics:-
Olive Drab (Dark Shade 51) 21oz 100% wool (Elastique)
Drab (Light Shade 54) 'Pink' 21oz 100% wool (Elastique)
Drab (Light Shade 54) 'Pink') 16oz 100% wool (Barathea)
Khaki (Shade No.1) 8oz 100% wool (Tropical Worsted)
Khaki (Shade No.1) 8oz 100% cotton twill
Olive Drab (Shade 33) 100% wool serge - Special Order only
The visors are 2 ply (lined with suede) as per the majority of Flighters and are flexible.
Waiting time is around 4-6 weeks due to other orders.
I do not currently have a website.
Hope this helps.
Best wishes,
Mike
The cap from the photos looks high quality and I love the lower crown and crusher look. I took a leap of faith and hit buy it now for the one in the eBay listing as it was my size. The eBay sale indicates I shouldn have the cap by August 27 with International shipping. Once I receive it I will do a review here. I know it was pricey, but still much less than the Society brand. I would have waited maybe for a Society brand as they use the Bancroft labels, but after hearing there might be a five year wait, I decided to take a chance on this one. Hopefully this might help others who are looking for what appears to be a quality repro.
Anyway, here are photos of other hats available the seller sent:
Last edited:
Micawber
Well-Known Member
I wonder where all the original Bancroft Flighter's that I owned over the years are now, plenty of other makes too. Don't forget that most crush caps were ordinary service visor caps with the crown ring / grommet and sometimes the insignia backing removed and then worn to death / under headphones etc. It's a Holywood myth that everyone walked around in caps with a soft peak designed with the 50 mission crush look right out of the box.
Another things, it's too damned cold at 30,000 ft over Festung Europa just to wear a flimsy cloth cap that only covered the top of your noggin anyway, save the posing shots for the lower altitude training and Stateside flying.
Another things, it's too damned cold at 30,000 ft over Festung Europa just to wear a flimsy cloth cap that only covered the top of your noggin anyway, save the posing shots for the lower altitude training and Stateside flying.
Micawber
Well-Known Member
I am still genuinely curious about the interest in repro crushers, do you guys wear these things on a day to day basis? I can wear and go about my business wearing my repro A2 and B10 / 15 jackets and they are generally just seen as short jackets by Joe Public but slap on a 50 mission crusher is taking it to an entirely different level.
ausreenactor
Well-Known Member
OR Crusher. Had a DD but sold it on to Korea. Then refunded the entire purchase price.. buyer never returned an email asking for the money back...The cap I listed in post #9 is currently listed on eBay and can be found here:
Repro WW2 USAAF Air Force Officer Crusher Cap Hat Flighter Style 100% Wool OD51 | eBay
Officer's dark olive rayon cap band. 'Officer's, Cap, Service'. Interior - satin lined with sweat shield & cotton maker's label. Visor - Russet leather - 'Roll-edged' & suede lined.www.ebay.com
I wrote the seller about the cap and this was his reply:
Good morning Kevin,
Thank you for your enquiry. The caps are my own brand and have been on the market for about 2 years now.
They are hand made and generally made to order and available in officer or enlisted versions in the following fabrics:-
Olive Drab (Dark Shade 51) 21oz 100% wool (Elastique)
Drab (Light Shade 54) 'Pink' 21oz 100% wool (Elastique)
Drab (Light Shade 54) 'Pink') 16oz 100% wool (Barathea)
Khaki (Shade No.1) 8oz 100% wool (Tropical Worsted)
Khaki (Shade No.1) 8oz 100% cotton twill
Olive Drab (Shade 33) 100% wool serge - Special Order only
The visors are 2 ply (lined with suede) as per the majority of Flighters and are flexible.
Waiting time is around 4-6 weeks due to other orders.
I do not currently have a website.
Hope this helps.
Best wishes,
Mike
The cap from the photos looks high quality and I love the lower crown and crusher look. I took a leap of faith and hit buy it now for the one in the eBay listing as it was my size. The eBay sale indicates I shouldn have the cap by August 27 with International shipping. Once I receive it I will do a review here. I know it was pricey, but still much less than the Society brand. I would have waited maybe for a Society brand as they use the Bancroft labels, but after hearing there might be a five year wait, I decided to take a chance on this one. Hopefully this might help others who are looking for what appears to be a quality repro.
Anyway, here are photos of other hats available the seller sent:
View attachment 64866View attachment 64867View attachment 64866View attachment 64868View attachment 64868View attachment 64869View attachment 64870
ausreenactor
Well-Known Member
M
Mannequin wears mine EVERY day!
warguy
Well-Known Member
Steve, you ask a fair question. I do not intend to wear my crusher out and about, except for perhaps a costume party at Halloween. I might be inspired to plop it on when watching Masters if the Air next year, but I am not sure my wife would stick with me. I have just always loved the look of them, and I own a few originals that will remain on my mannequins. I wear a lot of hats, mostly baseball style to cover my baldness as I grow old. I have always loved hats, jackets and leather bags, and I can’t explain why. So in the end I can’t really tell you why I want it and likely won’t wear it a lot, just something tugs at me. Maybe I will get a coat rack someday and drape one of my A2’s on it and rest the hat on top. Kevin
ShanghaiJack
Well-Known Member
Nothing beats riding a vintage motorcycle while wearing a crush cap.
if.. you live in a State with no helmet laws.
if.. you live in a State with no helmet laws.
Cocker
Well-Known Member
Would be very interesting to see how yours turns out, @warguy ! I might be interested in getting one of these.
@Micawber, this might also be useful for those of us into WW2 reenactment. If you're on a budget, or not willing to commit your original WW2 outside, a GOOD repro crusher is usually the way to go.
@Micawber, this might also be useful for those of us into WW2 reenactment. If you're on a budget, or not willing to commit your original WW2 outside, a GOOD repro crusher is usually the way to go.
Thomas Koehle
Well-Known Member
I'm also pretty curious how the crusher finally looks like "in the flesh" - at least on those photos the caps look pretty decent
and i would also wear one for rides on my 48 PAN
and i would also wear one for rides on my 48 PAN
busdrivermike
Well-Known Member
Depending on how accurate you want to be you can look at
The guy who made my u-boat hat , an option for a more
Relaxed look.
He does them in old leather and old duffel bag material
And can be made to preference
www.der-muetzenmacher.de
The guy who made my u-boat hat , an option for a more
Relaxed look.
He does them in old leather and old duffel bag material
And can be made to preference
Der Mützenmacher Shop
Außergewöhnliche Mützen,Bikermützen,Unikate aus Leder und alten Stoffen,Besondere Mützen für besondere Menschen,aus alt wird neu,Oldtimer und Cabriomützen
www.der-muetzenmacher.de
YoungMedic
Well-Known Member
ShanghaiJack
Well-Known Member
Thanks to warguy I messaged Mike, the hat maker, and reserved my slot
for 2 crushers, OD and Summer tan.
Fingers crossed.
for 2 crushers, OD and Summer tan.
Fingers crossed.
ausreenactor
Well-Known Member
Find the interest! We will pay you!
foster
Well-Known Member
No, sorry I do not have a pattern for that.
Brettafett
Well-Known Member
Id love a Summer khaki crusher, but cant find my way paying $100s for it. If anything it would hang on the wall next to one of the planes...
