This is the type of Irvin as used during the Battle of Britain (1940) and didn't cost much more than the price of a modern day repro, but has bags more character and many more stories to tell! Size 40".
This is the type of Irvin as used during the Battle of Britain (1940) and didn't cost much more than the price of a modern day repro, but has bags more character and many more stories to tell! Size 40".
Hot ginger and dynamite, There's nothing but that at night,
Back in Nagasaki Where the fellers chew tobaccy and the
women wicky-wacky Woo.
Paddy... I am 6'3. Sadly, there is no authentic Irvin that would fit me...
Mike
I KNOW there is a squadron of you guys out there that just LOVE the old RAF sheepskin flying jacket. Many feel it is the epitome of the vintage flyer!! So let's see some of you in your original or repro Irvin jacket (often called as that was one of the makers, ONE of many I hasten to add). As they came in all sorts of configurations, so the more the merrier. And tell us what you LOVE about your sheepskin...
OK, first off, mine is the four panel late 1940 version (with an Irvin label), Dot zips, leather puller on main zip, short pile on collar and trimmings, long shaggy baby underneath!! nice and cosey like toast! Nice and short around waist, no holes, in great condition and I just love it because it's English winter again!! Just cannot beat an original Irvin.
TALLY-HO CHAPS..and GOOD HUNTING..!!!!
Hot ginger and dynamite, There's nothing but that at night,
Back in Nagasaki Where the fellers chew tobaccy and the
women wicky-wacky Woo.
I don't have a photo ( frankly, I don't have a digital camera ) but I have an Aero pre-WWII version.
Hola,
Thanks again to the experienced folks who pointed out that the jacket from "Stairway to Heaven" was an Irvin.
Now that I know what kind of jacket it is, I am helping my father to order one, however I've come across several different makers on the 'Net...
What are your thoughts on Aero vs. the one from Aviation Leathercraft?
I know that Eastman makes one as well, but methinks $1000 + to be a wee bit steep at this time for me auld fella. Granted, I'm in the UK so the conversion rate is in our favour but still...
Cheers!
Aero- for sure.
B
T
Looking with my good ear peeled.
I have owned Irvins for over thirty years. Here are my recommendations in order based on authenticity:
1. Original - you can still get good originals in UK for less than a new Eastman
2. Eastman - if you can stand the RiRi main zipper
3. Aero - not quite as good as the Eastman, but better value
4. Aviation Leathercraft - not an authentic reproduction but very warm
5. All the others e.g. Cirrus, Cockpit and, controversially, Real McCoys )although I admit I have never handled one and they may be better than they look on the website)
By the way, if you expect any of the modern repros to have the deep coloured fleece of Niven's jacket in the film, you'll most likely be disappointed.
Hope this helps.
Alan
I agree with Alan that if at all possible you should try and find a nice original Irvin over even an Eastman repro. I used to own an Eastman but quickly sold it when I bought my first original four years ago. Here's a photo of one I picked up a couple years ago that's my "every day wear" Irvin in the winter that was about half the price of a repro. It's missing the original makers label but still has the original elastic neck strap, zips and belt. Grant
Thanks lads for the suggestions. The original route sounds intriguing, I wonder however if they have any left kicking around in the auld fella's size - he's a 48 - 50 jacket.
Cheers,
M
I was going to second Alan's post but if that's your old man's size then forget an original! You can still get cheap original Irvins up to a 40" but anything bigger goes for large sums.
Eastman is better than Aero on the fine details, but Aero is still a serious contender.
Personally I'd forget all the others, but if you really have to watch the pennies there are usually a lot of the Aviation Leathercraft ones on Ebay and they can go pretty cheap.
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