Werber Sportswear G1 just arrived!

[bobbyball]

Hi everyone,

Having not bought much recently, I took a gamble on a G-1 on ebay. Images were terrible and slightly out of focus but I took a punt on it.

Arrived today and it is absolutely incredible! The jacket has had a patch and nametag removed but apart from that is in incrediblely good condition – soft buttery goatskin with no scrapes whatsoever. The mouton is a lovely gingery (teddy bear) colour and all buttons/snaps are present. Waistband has turned a reddish colour and there is not a single nip in it. It is also a size 44 and is the MIL-J-7823 early spec (USN behind collar).

I understand that the Werbers are fairly rare as they only had one contract for this spec. It is slightly shorter in the arms and waist than my other
G-1’s but this is no bad thing for me. The windflap is quite a bit wider than any other I have seen. I avoided getting stung for customs charges and with the shipping from US has cost me £186.

Does anyone here have a Werber G-1? It is well made and I am delighted with it.

Regards, Bob

[fedoralover]

I'm no expert but I've looked at hundreds of listings of G-1s on the bay and I've never seen one before. Please post some pics.

fedoralover

[bobbyball]

There is another one on ebay right now but it is a lot more £ and not in as good condition. Just do a search for G-1 on ebay.com and it will come up.

I would say it is as good as Pritzker or H&L Block in terms of goatskin.

I am always wary of buying from the states (particularly the west) as I have seen many that are a bit dry or have some rot across the shoulders. Maybe it is the heat or the humid climate.

Here is the ebay number for the one I just got Item number:

250519095211

[Maverickson]

Hi Bob,

I have two of these same sized G-1 Werber jackets. They seem to have extreme variations with their proportions according to the stated size. However, one characteristic all of my Werber jackets have in common and that is long sleeves in proportion to the length of the body of the jacket.

Not that the existing length of the sleeves may currently be insufficient but the fact that your jacket exhibits short sleeves is a definite indication that the original length of the sleeves on your jacket have been altered.



Cheers,

[aswatland]

Your new Werber G-1 sounds fantastic Bob. As you say Werber had one G-1 contract-N383S 88886-which dates from 1952. I'm looking forward to seeing the jacket in the flesh or photos of it.

[bobbyball]

Hi Bob,

I have two of these same sized G-1 Werber jackets. They seem to have extreme variations with their proportions according to the stated size. However, one characteristic all of my Werber jackets have in common and that is long sleeves in proportion to the length of the body of the jacket.

Not that the existing length of the sleeves may currently be insufficient but the fact that your jacket exhibits short sleeves is a definite indication that the original length of the sleeves on your jacket have been altered.



Cheers,

Thanks for this info – the sleeves are a perfect length for me as is the length of the jacket. I think the 7823 contract had proportionally longer arms than the earlier G-1s. I have 3 M422a, 2 AN6552 and 2 55j14 and these all have shorter arms which I personally prefer.

The jacket that has eluded me ever since I started collecting (25 years ago) is the Fried Ostermann M422 and M422a.

A friend of mine had the M422 before the a designation and it is the only one I have ever seen in the flesh. He had it stolen a few years ago. To me, this would be the holy grail of navy jackets (incredibly rare) – but all the early contracts are very hard to find in good original condition. Mouton is a big problem for drying out and balding.

[Lt GUSTL]

PICs please!!!

kindest regards

[usdiver]

May I ask if you got a 44, what chest size are you and does it fit well? I've been trying to get one of these but I was told they come up small. Thanks I have an Eastman G-1 that's great but me being prior service USN I'm wanting a pre issued one...

[bentusian]

Sounds like a great score! Wish I could get myself an early G-1 too..

[Fletch]

The jacket that has eluded me ever since I started collecting (25 years ago) is the Fried Ostermann M422 and M422a.

A friend of mine had the M422 before the a designation and it is the only one I have ever seen in the flesh. He had it stolen a few years ago. To me, this would be the holy grail of navy jackets (incredibly rare) – but all the early contracts are very hard to find in good original condition.

Do you suppose that knowledge is now widespread enough that it might have had something to do with the theft? Are casual thieves targeting such items as M-422s?