The Historic Flying Clothing Company Tel: 01332 345729
Email: david@historicflyingclothing.com
Web site: https://www.historicflyingclothing.com/

USAAF A-2 flying jacket - Good Wear Leather reproduction

SOLD

Code: J25031



Reproduction A-2 by the Good Wear Leather Coat Company.   Marked as a size 46 and has a physical external pit to pit (x2) measurement of about 48" maximum.  This lovely jacket is based on the Rough Wear Clothing Company's W535ac 18091 contract from March 1941. Produced in good detail it is manufactured in aniline chrome-tanned russet brown goatskin with matching cotton lining, correct pattern 100% worsted wool knitted waistband and cuffs, correct ball studs on the pockets and collar etc.  The leather is in excellent condition with only minor wear and marks commensurate with light use.  Fitted with a 'Talon' branded M-39 type nickel zip in excellent condition. It has an authentic-looking taffeta weave label and 'AN' inspection stamp on the lining.  It also has a second label stitched to the lining on which 'New Goatskin Test jacket #1' has been handwritten along with the signature of the Good Wear Company's owner 'John Chapman'. The waistband and cuffs are very good bar minor bobbling and one small hole in the left cuff (see photographs).  This unique test jacket almost certainly dates from 2007/8 and has been worn with care, remaining in excellent wearable condition.  A bargain. Stock code J25031.

Approximate measurements : pit to pit 48", pit to waist 14.5", pit to cuff 19.5", collar(top) to waist 26.5".

The Good Wear Leather Coat Company was founded in 2007 by John Chapman and is based in Seattle, Washington. Their goal is 'to make a very accurate representation of a given contract, from the body shape, sleeve shape, collar shape, to the pocket shape, with the detailed parts and large parts shaped as originals.  We strongly believe that a reproduction of any WWII A-2 would have to have leather that looks like the leather used in WWII. This kind of leather has natural grain, in uneven areas all over the hides. This kind of leather has so much character and looks like it was made in a bygone era. Our leather has 100% natural grain, and is not pressed to get this character - what you see is what the animal provided. We offer goatskin, horsehide, and cowhide. Each should exude the same character that leather from the 1940s would have had. ...  original A-2s were made by hand, in a hurry, by professionals. The stitching wasn't laser straight - it was done solidly, but the human element of imperfection between two points is often seen. We emulate this in our A-2 jackets. We don't have sloppy stitching, but rather a similar style of stitching that one can tell, on close inspection, would be seen in an original A-2. This, along with the pattern and leather, make Good Wear Leather A-2s a fun, guiltless choice when someone desires to wear an A-2 just as they were worn in the Army Air Forces. Good Wear A-2s can be seen in the film 'Red Tails'.  There is currently a lead time of 12 - 15 months for a jacket and their Rough Wear A-2s are priced at $1449.