What's the lifespan of this hobby ?

[deeb7]

.... you will see other countries gaining disposable income. The question as I see it will be will the average chinese, korean, vietnamese or indian guy want or care about US/British flying gear from 60 years ago.

The average guy? .... no, but I believe that gradually there will be more interest from new markets. I think it's starting to happen now.

I agree that it will always be a hobby, but I think it is niave to think that all these makers will be in business in the next 5 years, at least at the prices they are getting today. Oviously eastman is in business for this, and Aero has a larger line beyond military, but is John at Goodwear actually makeing a living off this, or is it a suplimental/retirement job? I don't know, but there is a vast difference if someone is trying to live off of it vs just making additional income.

I imagine that all the current 'high end' makers are making a comfortable living.

They will adapt if they need to, and I'm sure that all of them will be around for a lot longer than 5 years.

And, a long lead time is not necessarily an indication of popularity, it is more an indication of the availibility of material, the complexity of manufacuture and/or the number of employees making them.

So, in other words, they have more orders than they can keep up with ... sounds like a recipe for success to me.

As far as the Civil War clothing goes, I don't think you can draw parallels. Many of us collect flight jackets, just because we like the style ... not because they were once uniforms.

You know .... they can be worn daily.

 

[rich]

It will be interesting to see. As the world wealth is redistributed, and the US loses its place as the economic leader, and there is less disposable income, you will see other countries gaining disposable income. The question as I see it will be will the average chinese, korean, vietnamese or indian guy want or care about US/British flying gear from 60 years ago.

I would have expected, of all countries, that Japan would abhor the memory and ephemera of the USAAF. To me it's a paradox that the market for these kinds of items is so big there. I guess if that's the case, what's to stop other nations eventually becoming similarly enthralled? Not a question I could answer ........

David's point is on the money - if you couldn't wear them so readily and acceptably, would any of us want to own these jackets quite so much? Whatever the rationale for collecting it, you'd soon be a social pariah for parading around in your Waffen SS gear........ even if Hugo Boss did design it.

 

[greyhound52]

I would have expected, of all countries, that Japan would abhor the memory and ephemera of the USAAF. To me it's a paradox that the market for these kinds of items is so big there. I guess if that's the case, what's to stop other nations eventually becoming similarly enthralled? Not a question I could answer ........

David's point is on the money - if you couldn't wear them so readily and acceptably, would any of us want to own these jackets quite so much? Whatever the rationale for collecting it, you'd soon be a social pariah for parading around in your Waffen SS gear........ even if Hugo Boss did design it.[/quote]


Actually it is the younger generation of Japanese that like flight jackets so no real memory of the war it is ancient history to them. Second, I agree with David we like the style of the flight jacket and YOU CAN WEAR IT. Can't do that with that 1863 repro civil war uniform.

 

[tgd31968]

Can't do that with that 1863 repro civil war uniform.

You COULD, if you don't mind some strange looks. Clearly we disagree on this one. I agree there will always be some with the history bug and the disposable income, but naturally decline over time.

The great thing is, we can all guess, but we are debating something that we can't know the answer to. It is speculation on all sides. I hope you are more right than I am, but I don't think so.