ALL ORIGINAL Irvin RAF type Jackets - Loving that Wolf in sheeps' clothing!

[aswatland]

What a superb original Pride and Clark post War jacket. Just the thing to keep bear warm!

[Smithy]

Hi Everyone, I need Andrew's help on this one. Having done the thoroughly decent thing and purchased Roger the Bomber Command bear, he arrived resplendent in his Irvin Jacket. I am attempting to date the maunfacturer and the year of manufacture, as Roger has removed any Air Ministry labels from the jacket. It could be a Links or DGL Irvin from 1941 or 1942, however I must defer to Andrew's superior knowledge )

http://s269.photobucket.com/albums/j...rbearsmall.jpg

Goggles look private purchase. Obviously an Auxiliary Air Force type then if he can afford his own kit.

But for goodness sake, can't he put some bloody trousers on??!! He'll get the wind blowing up a few places I'd wager he'd rather not...

[Otter]

Just the bear facts please!

[Smithy]

Now, now, there's not need to get grizzly about it.

[PADDY]

Just 'because' this jacket is worth a re-post..!!! Lovely

It's been very quiet here recently, so to get the thread going here are some pictures I took earlier today of three Irvins I bought earlier in the year. The first is a beautiful Wareing's jacket that dates to 1938-9. It is in superb original condition and only lacks the linen label. The zips are the unmarked Dot variety and the slider bucket is marked "Dot British".

[aswatland]

Thanks Paddy for extracting the Wareings pics. It is a really superb example of a pre-War Irvin. BTW The 1938 IAC jacket which is pictured a couple of pages earlier is up for sale if anyone is interested.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IRVIN-FLIG...item3f196c5420

[Mk Vb]

Hello all,
I'm new to the Lounge....been passing it on my way home from the airfield for a while now, but it looks so inviting I decided to drop in. Hope I don't spill anyone's drink.
I have just received a really nice Irvin which arrived in the mail from UK last week, and I would like you all to help dating it - it has a number of similarities to Andrew's labelled 1938 he just sold on ebay, in that it is two panel back. Dot Zip, and leather strips for pulls...
It came from a family whose father was a brave man - a tail-gunner in Wellingtons from 1944 to 45, but perhaps it was recycled kit when it was issued to him?
I shall post some shots in the morning . It is in remarkable shape - only missing the label, with no damage anywhere and all the original zips and belt and collar elastic in place. Worked in a field this morning in frosty near zero Melbourne weather and it was magnificent...being 6'2" and 100kg, it took a long time to find an Irvin big enough - by the measurements, it must be a size 8.

[aswatland]

Welcome to the forum. I know the jacket you are referring to. It was sold by Harrington (Simon Swaffield) on Ebay. It's a c.1938-39 Wareing's Irvin and is very similar to my Wareings jacket, which I posted pics of recently.

[Mk Vb]

Cool! Thanks Andrew. it came with a picture of F/S Craggs and a letter from his son, a poignant story of his dad's life and time in the RAF at the end of the war.
Simon took the jacket off auction after we'd chatted for a bit - I'd been bugging him for a while about a size 8.

[aswatland]

He paid £1200 for it and tried to sell it for over £2k on his website! It looks like a nice Irvin and I would love to see some pics of you wearing it.