Should i bother restoring ?

[mulceber]

Replacing all knits too

Nice - same color, or something new? I know it's not an aero, but with that dark seal leather, the aero red knits would look great.

 

[Officer Dibley]

Nice - same color, or something new? I know it's not an aero, but with that dark seal leather, the aero red knits would look great.

Same colour. The red isn’t to my personal liking tbh. The light knits make a good compliment to the dark hide. Reds make a contrast. A subtle difference.

 

[stanier]

Personally I think adding a name tag is the worst cheesy naff thing that can be done to an A-2, especially if it says V. Hilts, but each to their own.

Now if you were adding a Crown zip....and yes I know an ELC of this age my have a WWII Talon, but sell that separately...

I think your A-2 when properly restored will be worth more than £300. With that much patina and otherwise as new and with a new one however much ELC is charging today, I think £300 is conservative.

 

[mulceber]

Yeah, I'm with Stanier on the name tag. It's one thing if you're dealing with a vintage jacket and the name tag is original to it, but I wouldn't put it on a repro.

 

[Steve27752]

Yeah, I'm with Stanier on the name tag. It's one thing if you're dealing with a vintage jacket and the name tag is original to it, but I wouldn't put it on a repro.

I have a name tag (my name) on my ELC Monarch and I am very happy with it.

 

[Officer Dibley]

Personally I think adding a name tag is the worst cheesy naff thing that can be done to an A-2, especially if it says V. Hilts, but each to their own.

Now if you were adding a Crown zip....and yes I know an ELC of this age my have a WWII Talon, but sell that separately...

I think your A-2 when properly restored will be worth more than £300. With that much patina and otherwise as new and with a new one however much ELC is charging today, I think £300 is conservative.

Fear not, Hiltz is not in my plan. Hadn’t realised name tags were such a Marmite issue.

I think this jacket has a period Talon zipper. Did ELC do that as an option ? I think they did.....

I could see this being a keeper, it’s beaten up, has beautiful grain and fits ok. Other than a russet goat ELC or GW, i can think of no jacket i’d rather muck about in.

I’ve sent it off and Rob said it’ll be quickly done. I’ll report on the work when i get it back.

Dave

 

[jeremiah]

I have a name tag (my name) on my ELC Monarch and I am very happy with it.

But we all know it’s because you forget who you are, so your exempt Steve

 

[Steve27752]

But we all know it’s because you forget who you are, so your exempt Steve

It's very kind of you to say that.

 

[mulceber]

I have a name tag (my name) on my ELC Monarch and I am very happy with it.

Fair enough; as Stanier also said, to each his own.

 

[bn1966]

I had a HH ELC A-2 that came up a bit small on me but was worn to death by me, took it back to ELC for a reline & knit replacement, wore it to death some more, decided I really needed to go up a size & sold it for £500.00 (had a period Talon). Nearly purchased a House Goat hide A-2 from ELC a while back..ended up with an A-1

 

[B-Man2]

Just a personal observation.... at he prices ELC is charging these days for a new jacket , they’re going to be getting a LOT of restoration work.

 

[Officer Dibley]

Sent the jacket off on Tuesday. Just had a call to take payment. Jacket is done and going in the mail today.
That’s service in my book !
Will post pics next week when i get it back.
Happy long weekend !
Dave

 

[B-Man2]

Damn nobody here in the US can match that time table. How were their prices to do the work? Have those increased as well?

 

[Officer Dibley]

£300 for a lining & all new knits. I think i mentioned this in a previous thread.Must be a quiet spell or they reward owners wanting to sustain their jackets with high priority. Not sure Burt
Dave

 

[Smithy]

Jeez that's quick.

It's such good looking leather so it's nice to hear the old girl is being tarted up.

I forgot to say earlier that the leather actually reminds me of an original 1940s private purchase A-2 that Mike1973 has which is goat. It is some of the best looking leather you'll ever see and is the perfect example to show people who think that goat can't develop patina. I think I've got some photos tucked away of it so I'll try and dig them out for you.

 

[Smithy]

Found them...

 

[Smithy]

And one more for good measure...

Wear the bejesus out of yours and there's every chance it'll end up looking along the lines of this.

Still some of the best A-2 wear I have seen.

 

[Micawber]

Sent the jacket off on Tuesday. Just had a call to take payment. Jacket is done and going in the mail today.
That’s service in my book !
Will post pics next week when i get it back.
Happy long weekend !
Dave

Credit where credit is due, that's super fast service.

 

[Officer Dibley]

Safely back. They’ve done a great job !
I went for the name tag as everyone at work has a name badge and all the flyers A-2’s particularly.

 

[mulceber]

Fantastic work! I’d say it looks as good as new, but I think we all know it looks better than new. It’s plainly a well loved jacket that’s been very well cared for.