Vintage capeskin windcheater (44”)

[Dr H]

Just picked this up from Paul Mathias for summer wear. It will replace the A-1, which will go to EBAY soon.
It’s a simple design, zip front, buttoned patch pockets, knitted cuffs and waistband. Obviously inspired by period flying jackets, but less overt.
No label, it has probably been relined in the past, so no indication of maker.
The zipper is a Lightning - does anyone have a better idea of a date for the latter?

 

[Dr H]

More images.

 

[Dr H]

 

[Tom Bowers]

I love this Jacket, Great Character and great presence. The grain is sublime.
Tom Bowers

 

[B-Man2]

That is one awesome looking jacket.
Congrats!!

 

[Skip]

Yep another beauty

 

[John Lever]

Very good condition for such an old jacket

 

[Ken at Aero Leather]

Most interesting..........are you sure it's been relined? Ignore the hand stitched sleeve lining as a clue
It's got features that suggest British and other that suggest Canadian.
Is the knit original to the jacket?
Any chance of seeing the buttonhole?

 

[Dr H]

Now having handled the jacket, I can confirm that the lining is original to the jacket, but knits are later replacements as the thread colour and stitch quality differ from the rest of the jacket.
Fit is very good over a shirt, these are my lowest rise trousers (Old Town, Stove Pipes) so length is comfortable and sleeves work very well.
Additional bonus: pockets can accommodate an iPhone 6s...

 

[Ken at Aero Leather]

OK Dr H

The jacket is British, of that I'm now 100% certain after seeing the new pics.
I can't see anything to make me think the jacket has been relined. The lining material is very typical of that fitted to British Sports jackets during the 1930s
The Knit itself looks American...or not British at least, but it's either one of the best jobs I've ever seen at catching every single stitch hole ...OR... the top stitch above the waistband and cuffs were added at the time of replacement, not from day one

 

[Dr H]

Thank you Ken, the previous owner (Paul) had mentioned relining, but I can only think that he based this on the armholes and poor stitching of the waistband. All of the stitching looks tight, neat and sound, but when you examine the top stitching of the cuffs and waistband, these have been less well executed as the line is pretty wavy in places (and the thread colour is not a 100% match). Personally, I'm not bothered as I prefer the appearance of top stitched cuffs and waistbands from A-1/early A-2 contracts.
If it's a 1930's jacket then the state of preservation is all the more remarkable (when I consider how poorly so many other capeskin A-1 jackets have fared from a similar period) as there is no flaking, no dry spots, no holes (a tiny repair on one of the pockets) and the lining is in excellent condition.

 

[Dr H]

As an aside, what this does prove is how good a match ELC achieves for period capeskin of this age (although comparing this with my .50 cal A-1 in the sales thread, the zipped windcheater looks less used!).

Comparison of two hides side by side...

 

[Dr H]

Just gauging interest before posting in the classifieds. It’s a really beautiful jacket in top condition (and I couldn’t resist it), but I really am leaving shorter jackets now.